usatoday--2020-04-17--Protests draw thousands over state stay-at-home orders during coronavirus pandemic

WASHINGTON – Multiple states have seen protests as stay-a-home orders meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus continue .
Many protesters are angry about the economic ramifications the restrictions are causing .
The Labor Department reported more than 5 million new unemployment claims Thursday .
A series of conservative groups have emerged to organize and participate in a series of national demonstrations to pressure their governors .
More : Sen. Kennedy says economic activity must resume even though that means coronavirus will 'spread faster' The protests are occurring as President Donald Trump and governors debate over when states should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure people practice social distancing .
The White House introduced guidelines Thursday for governors to follow to reopen their respective states .
These follow a week of turbulent communication between the White House and states about whether it was up to the president or the governors to decide when , and how , to reopen their economies .
Less than 24 hours after issuing these guidelines , Trump called on supporters Friday to `` liberate '' some states that have experienced such protests over lockdowns .
More : Here 's what the Constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim to have total authority over states More : Stimulus checks are going out to people who have died , what that means for relatives Here are some states that have seen protests thus far : More than 100 protesters gathered on Friday at Huntington Beach to participate in a demonstration against California ’ s stay-at-home guidelines , according to the Los Angeles Times .
Coronavirus : Newsom announces economic task force with four former California governors Protesters could be seen holding American flags and donning Trump campaign paraphernalia .
Some could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on social distancing , according to videos .
Democratic Gov .
Gavin Newsom unveiled a six-point plan in which those conditions must be met before modifying the stay-home order , which is in place until further notice .
Newsom and the governors of Washington and Oregon also announced a pact to coordinate loosening of restrictions .
A record 3.1 million people have filed for unemployment insurance since March 12 , Newsom said , breaking California ’ s streak of 119 consecutive months of job growth More : Protester arrested outside Governor 's Mansion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of protesters gathered Friday in front of Democratic Gov .
Tim Walz 's residence to show their disdain over the state 's stay-at-home order .
On Facebook , the group planning the protest named `` Liberate Minnesota '' said , `` Thousands of lives are being destroyed right now .
It is not the governor 's place to restrict free movement of Minnesota citizens !
Gov .
Walz you work for the citizens of this state !
Minnesota 's economy must be reopened for business or destroying the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result if we do n't act quickly ! ''
More : Trump calls to 'liberate ' states where protesters have demanded easing coronavirus lockdowns President Donald Trump on Friday tweeted , `` LIBERATE MINNESOTA ! ''
after announcing the day prior he 'd allow state 's governors to decide when to re-open .
He posted similar tweets about Michigan and Virginia .
Minnesota 's count of confirmed coronavirus cases climbed above 2,000 Friday , with 17 new fatalities raising the state ’ s death toll to 111 , according to local commercial radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would extend Minnesota 's stay-at-home order , as well as bar and restaurant closures , to May 4 .
The order , which began on March 27 , was originally supposed to end April 10 .
A protest took place in Richmond , Virginia , on Thursday by a group upset with the stay-at-home order put into place to limit the spread of the coronavirus .
According to television station WHSV , a group known as `` ReOpen Virginia , End The Lockdown VA and Virginians Against Excessive Quarantine '' had planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Square on Thursday .
More : DNC Milwaukee Host Committee reduces staff by more than half through layoffs and transfers According WHSV , the group of protesters who showed up was smaller than expected .
However , Capitol Police still had to shut down Richmond 's Capitol Square , outside the General Assembly , because the number of people who attended violated a state executive order prohibiting 10 or more people from gathering who do n't practice socially distancing .
On Wednesday , Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam announced he was extending the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks .
It was set to expire on April 23 , but now will continue until at least May 8 .
The stay-at-home order for Virginians remains in effect until June 10 , as it was originally set .
“ Government mandating sick people to stay home is called quarantine .
However , the government mandating healthy citizens to stay home , forcing businesses and churches to close is called tyranny , ” said ReOpen Virginia in a press release Demonstrators drove thousands of vehicles – many draped with protest signs – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , loudly protesting Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer 's stay-at-home order .
The demonstration was dubbed `` Operation Gridlock '' because organizers said they wanted to gain attention by tying up traffic .
With the thousands of vehicles , traffic was backed up for more than a mile around the Capitol in several directions , according to Lt. Darren Green of the Michigan State Police .
More : Gov .
Whitmer says Capitol protesters put others at risk , may have worsened pandemic State infection numbers in Michigan appeared to flatten somewhat going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and death numbers were up again on Monday .
Health officials have recently expressed cautious optimism but have added that it is too soon to say that the infection has reached its peak in Michigan .
Whitmer said she respects the right to protest , saying it does not violate the stay-at-home order , but she said many of the protesters put themselves and others at risk of contracting COVID-19 .
More : Trump threatens to invoke constitutional power to adjourn Congress because of hold-up over nominees Whitmer declared a state of emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` stay-at-home '' order March 23 that directed residents to stay inside , except for essential purposes , and told businesses deemed nonessential to stop calling employees in to work .
Last week , she extended that order until May 1 , while imposing tougher restrictions on nonessential travel and some retail outlets .
Michigan has the third-highest number of coronavirus deaths in the nation .
About 100 protesters demanded that Democratic Gov .
Andy Beshear reopen Kentucky , and disrupted his televised Wednesday afternoon pandemic update by chanting , blowing horns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ window of the briefing room , nearly drowning out his comments to Kentuckians .
Protesters , some of whom appeared to be standing less than 6 feet apart from one another , chanted `` we want to work '' and `` facts over fear . ''
About halfway through his briefing , Beshear acknowledged the protesters , saying `` there 's some noise in the background . ''
`` We do have some folks up in here in Kentucky today – and everybody should be able to express their opinion – that believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , '' Beshear said .
`` Folks , that would kill people .
That would absolutely kill people . ''
More : Stimulus program for small business nearly depleted as Congress still negotiating a deal The protesters particularly disagreed with Beshear ’ s decision to order the closure of myriad businesses across the commonwealth — a move he made to slow the spread of COVID-19 , which has killed 122 Kentuckians and infected 2,291 so far .
Around 100 protesters gathered outside the Statehouse during GOP Gov .
Mike Dewine ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing a Donald Trump hat while many carried signs expressing displeasure at the stay-at-home order or waved American flags .
Additionally , a growing chorus of Ohio ’ s Republican lawmakers want DeWine to set a date for the first phase of re-opening businesses , schools and public places .
Earlier , the first-term Republican governor made it clear during an interview with MSNBC ’ s “ Morning Joe ” that any loosening of the stay-at-home order would be contingent on coronavirus testing results and other health data .
“ Whenever we open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if people aren ’ t confident , if they don ’ t think they ’ re safe , they ’ re not going to go to restaurants , they ’ re not going to go to bars , they ’ re not going to really get back into society , ” DeWine said .
One protester questioned whether DeWine was truly a Republican , asking , `` Do n't he believe in less government ?
Small government ? ''
Ohio Health Director Dr. Amy Acton issued the stay-at-home order March 22 , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That order expires May 1 , but it ’ s increasingly likely that students and teachers won ’ t return to their classrooms this academic year .
Hundreds of Utah residents gathered Wednesday to protest the state 's closures of businesses and facilities due to the coronavirus .
St. George resident Larry Meyers organized the event in an effort to `` assert our God-given , Constitutionally-protected rights , including freedom of speech , freedom of assembly , religious freedom , the right to contract , and the right to use our property @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we do not harm others '' according to a Facebook post .
More : White House defends Ivanka Trump 's trip to New Jersey despite advice against travel to stop coronavirus ' spread There was a large turnout in front of the Washington County administration building as people marched around the block holding signs urging Gov .
Gary Herbert to re-open non-essential businesses .
Deborah Palmer , a St. George resident who owns a small business , says that her concern for her family 's job security is what brought her out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of work , my husband 's work has slowed down and I 'm out of work because of this , '' Palmer said .
`` I hope our representatives and our governing officials get to see that there is a great number of us who do not support the government mandate and restrictions taking away our rights . ''
Police in North Carolina on Tuesday arrested a protester after more than 100 people gathered in downtown Raleigh to protest Democratic Gov .
Roy Cooper ’ s stay-at-home order .
The arrest was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the Raleigh Police Department .
RPD released a statement on social media regarding the protest and said “ protesting is not listed as an essential function ” under stay-at-home orders issued by Cooper and Wake County , where Raleigh is located .
More : China didn ’ t warn public of likely pandemic for a pivotal 6 days , AP report shows Cooper ’ s order was originally announced March 29 and is set to be in effect until at least April 29 .
Wake County ’ s order went into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be lifted Thursday , though the Raleigh News & Observer reported the county is expected to extend the order two weeks .
The News & Observer reported there were more than 100 people at the protest .
Protests are planned for Monday in front of the state Capitol in Harrisburg , according to The York Daily Record .
Pennsylvania Gov .
Tom Wolf announced a stay-at-home order will be in place until April 30 .
The groups protesting are against lockdown restrictions being extended beyond May 1 .
In an almost identical statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ReOpen PA , End The Lockdown PA and Pennsylvanians Against Excessive Quarantine argue that forcing healthy people to stay home is `` tyranny . ''
The protest `` would be unfortunate , if they actually go through with that , '' the governor said .
`` That 's going to be their choice .
I 'm sorry that that 's happening , if that in fact happens , because to the extent they 're banding together and violating the social distancing guidelines , they 're actually hurting themselves , '' Wolf said Rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing and wear appropriate protective equipment .
For those worried about standing near the crowd , feel free to honk in support from a car , Bellis said .
Contributing : Paul Egan , Kara Berg , Detroit Free Press ; Jordan Culver , USA TODAY ; Anna Staver and Cole Behrens , The Columbus Dispatch ; Morgan Watkins , Joe Sonka and Jon Hale , Louisville Courier Journal ; Terell Wilkins , The ( St. George , Utah ) Spectrum ; Kim Strong , The York Daily Record .

Protests draw thousands over state stay-at-home orders during coronavirus pandemic
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: Thousands across the country protest stay-at-home order Multiple states across the country have seen protests as stay-at-home orders meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus continue. USA TODAY, Wochit
WASHINGTON – Multiple states have seen protests as stay-a-home orders meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus continue.
Many protesters are angry about the economic ramifications the restrictions are causing. The Labor Department reported more than 5 million new unemployment claims Thursday.
A series of conservative groups have emerged to organize and participate in a series of national demonstrations to pressure their governors.
More: Sen. Kennedy says economic activity must resume even though that means coronavirus will 'spread faster'
The protests are occurring as President Donald Trump and governors debate over when states should loosen the restrictions put in place to ensure people practice social distancing.
The White House introduced guidelines Thursday for governors to follow to reopen their respective states.
These follow a week of turbulent communication between the White House and states about whether it was up to the president or the governors to decide when, and how, to reopen their economies.
Less than 24 hours after issuing these guidelines, Trump called on supporters Friday to "liberate" some states that have experienced such protests over lockdowns.
More: Here's what the Constitution's 10th Amendment says about Trump's claim to have total authority over states
More: Stimulus checks are going out to people who have died, what that means for relatives
Here are some states that have seen protests thus far:
California
More than 100 protesters gathered on Friday at Huntington Beach to participate in a demonstration against California’s stay-at-home guidelines, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Coronavirus: Newsom announces economic task force with four former California governors
Protesters could be seen holding American flags and donning Trump campaign paraphernalia. Some could be seen hugging and not following CDC guidelines on social distancing, according to videos.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a six-point plan in which those conditions must be met before modifying the stay-home order, which is in place until further notice.
Newsom and the governors of Washington and Oregon also announced a pact to coordinate loosening of restrictions.
A record 3.1 million people have filed for unemployment insurance since March 12, Newsom said, breaking California’s streak of 119 consecutive months of job growth
More: Protester arrested outside Governor's Mansion after trapping himself in concrete-filled barrels
Minnesota
Hundreds of protesters gathered Friday in front of Democratic Gov. Tim Walz's residence to show their disdain over the state's stay-at-home order.
On Facebook, the group planning the protest named "Liberate Minnesota" said, "Thousands of lives are being destroyed right now. It is not the governor's place to restrict free movement of Minnesota citizens! Gov. Walz you work for the citizens of this state! Minnesota's economy must be reopened for business or destroying the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Minnesota citizens and their families may result if we don't act quickly!"
Protest grows amid Minnesota 'stay-at-home' order President Donald Trump has tweeted his support for a protest by conservatives Friday outside Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's official residence in St Paul. (April 17) AP
More: Trump calls to 'liberate' states where protesters have demanded easing coronavirus lockdowns
President Donald Trump on Friday tweeted, "LIBERATE MINNESOTA!" after announcing the day prior he'd allow state's governors to decide when to re-open. He posted similar tweets about Michigan and Virginia.
Minnesota's count of confirmed coronavirus cases climbed above 2,000 Friday, with 17 new fatalities raising the state’s death toll to 111, according to local commercial radio station KNSI.
Walz announced on Wednesday he would extend Minnesota's stay-at-home order, as well as bar and restaurant closures, to May 4. The order, which began on March 27, was originally supposed to end April 10.
Virginia
A protest took place in Richmond, Virginia, on Thursday by a group upset with the stay-at-home order put into place to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
According to television station WHSV, a group known as "ReOpen Virginia, End The Lockdown VA and Virginians Against Excessive Quarantine" had planned a gathering at at Virginia's Capitol Square on Thursday.
More: DNC Milwaukee Host Committee reduces staff by more than half through layoffs and transfers
According WHSV, the group of protesters who showed up was smaller than expected.
However, Capitol Police still had to shut down Richmond's Capitol Square, outside the General Assembly, because the number of people who attended violated a state executive order prohibiting 10 or more people from gathering who don't practice socially distancing.
Capitol police are asking people at the Reopen Virginia rally to spread out. They said they’ll ask three times before they start writing people up pic.twitter.com/xcCCPAAHRU — Jackie DeFusco 8News (@Jackie8News) April 16, 2020
On Wednesday, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced he was extending the end-date of Virgina's business closures by two weeks. It was set to expire on April 23, but now will continue until at least May 8. The stay-at-home order for Virginians remains in effect until June 10, as it was originally set.
“Government mandating sick people to stay home is called quarantine. However, the government mandating healthy citizens to stay home, forcing businesses and churches to close is called tyranny,” said ReOpen Virginia in a press release
Michigan
Demonstrators drove thousands of vehicles – many draped with protest signs – to Michigan's state Capitol on Wednesday, loudly protesting Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's stay-at-home order.
The demonstration was dubbed "Operation Gridlock" because organizers said they wanted to gain attention by tying up traffic. With the thousands of vehicles, traffic was backed up for more than a mile around the Capitol in several directions, according to Lt. Darren Green of the Michigan State Police.
More: Gov. Whitmer says Capitol protesters put others at risk, may have worsened pandemic
State infection numbers in Michigan appeared to flatten somewhat going into last weekend, but both infection and death numbers were up again on Monday. Health officials have recently expressed cautious optimism but have added that it is too soon to say that the infection has reached its peak in Michigan.
Governor: Michigan can't yet get back to work Michigan's governor acknowledges the state's stay-at-home order to fight the coronavirus has angered some residents but she won't allow the economy to reopen until medical experts say it's safe (April 13) AP
Whitmer said she respects the right to protest, saying it does not violate the stay-at-home order, but she said many of the protesters put themselves and others at risk of contracting COVID-19.
More: Trump threatens to invoke constitutional power to adjourn Congress because of hold-up over nominees
Whitmer declared a state of emergency in Michigan on March 10 and announced a "stay-at-home" order March 23 that directed residents to stay inside, except for essential purposes, and told businesses deemed nonessential to stop calling employees in to work. Last week, she extended that order until May 1, while imposing tougher restrictions on nonessential travel and some retail outlets.
Michigan has the third-highest number of coronavirus deaths in the nation.
Kentucky
About 100 protesters demanded that Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear reopen Kentucky, and disrupted his televised Wednesday afternoon pandemic update by chanting, blowing horns and shouting into a megaphone outside the window of the briefing room, nearly drowning out his comments to Kentuckians.
Protesters, some of whom appeared to be standing less than 6 feet apart from one another, chanted "we want to work" and "facts over fear."
Protesters who oppose Gov. Andy Beshear’s decision to close businesses to slow the spread of the coronavirus have gathered en masse outside the room where he is doing his daily #COVID19 press conference, crying out “We want to work!” and now “Facts over fear!” pic.twitter.com/49812u8G4R — Morgan Watkins (@morganwatkins26) April 15, 2020
About halfway through his briefing, Beshear acknowledged the protesters, saying "there's some noise in the background."
"We do have some folks up in here in Kentucky today – and everybody should be able to express their opinion – that believe we should reopen Kentucky immediately, right now," Beshear said. "Folks, that would kill people. That would absolutely kill people."
More: Stimulus program for small business nearly depleted as Congress still negotiating a deal
The protesters particularly disagreed with Beshear’s decision to order the closure of myriad businesses across the commonwealth — a move he made to slow the spread of COVID-19, which has killed 122 Kentuckians and infected 2,291 so far.
Ohio
Around 100 protesters gathered outside the Statehouse during GOP Gov. Mike Dewine’s appearance on Monday, at least one wearing a Donald Trump hat while many carried signs expressing displeasure at the stay-at-home order or waved American flags.
Additionally, a growing chorus of Ohio’s Republican lawmakers want DeWine to set a date for the first phase of re-opening businesses, schools and public places.
Earlier, the first-term Republican governor made it clear during an interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that any loosening of the stay-at-home order would be contingent on coronavirus testing results and other health data.
“Whenever we open up, however we do it, if people aren’t confident, if they don’t think they’re safe, they’re not going to go to restaurants, they’re not going to go to bars, they’re not going to really get back into society,” DeWine said.
More: California expands aid to undocumented workers, bolsters unemployment benefits help center
One protester questioned whether DeWine was truly a Republican, asking, "Don't he believe in less government? Small government?"
Ohio Health Director Dr. Amy Acton issued the stay-at-home order March 22, but schools have been closed since March 12. That order expires May 1, but it’s increasingly likely that students and teachers won’t return to their classrooms this academic year.
Utah
Hundreds of Utah residents gathered Wednesday to protest the state's closures of businesses and facilities due to the coronavirus.
St. George resident Larry Meyers organized the event in an effort to "assert our God-given, Constitutionally-protected rights, including freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, religious freedom, the right to contract, and the right to use our property as we see fit so long as we do not harm others" according to a Facebook post.
More: White House defends Ivanka Trump's trip to New Jersey despite advice against travel to stop coronavirus' spread
There was a large turnout in front of the Washington County administration building as people marched around the block holding signs urging Gov. Gary Herbert to re-open non-essential businesses.
Deborah Palmer, a St. George resident who owns a small business, says that her concern for her family's job security is what brought her out to the march.
"My daughter is out of work, my husband's work has slowed down and I'm out of work because of this," Palmer said. "I hope our representatives and our governing officials get to see that there is a great number of us who do not support the government mandate and restrictions taking away our rights."
North Carolina
Police in North Carolina on Tuesday arrested a protester after more than 100 people gathered in downtown Raleigh to protest Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s stay-at-home order.
The arrest was made by the State Capitol Police, according to the Raleigh Police Department. RPD released a statement on social media regarding the protest and said “protesting is not listed as an essential function” under stay-at-home orders issued by Cooper and Wake County, where Raleigh is located.
More: China didn’t warn public of likely pandemic for a pivotal 6 days, AP report shows
The protestors are in violation of the Governor’s Executive Order and have been asked to leave. #ReopenNC pic.twitter.com/AIEetS42NE — Raleigh Police (@raleighpolice) April 14, 2020
Cooper’s order was originally announced March 29 and is set to be in effect until at least April 29. Wake County’s order went into effect March 27 and is set to be lifted Thursday, though the Raleigh News & Observer reported the county is expected to extend the order two weeks. The News & Observer reported there were more than 100 people at the protest.
Pennsylvania
Protests are planned for Monday in front of the state Capitol in Harrisburg, according to The York Daily Record.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced a stay-at-home order will be in place until April 30. The groups protesting are against lockdown restrictions being extended beyond May 1.
In an almost identical statement from other state's organizers, groups ReOpen PA, End The Lockdown PA and Pennsylvanians Against Excessive Quarantine argue that forcing healthy people to stay home is "tyranny."
More: Vice President Pence shows alliance with governors, despite Trump's attacks
The protest "would be unfortunate, if they actually go through with that," the governor said.
"That's going to be their choice. I'm sorry that that's happening, if that in fact happens, because to the extent they're banding together and violating the social distancing guidelines, they're actually hurting themselves," Wolf said
Rally organizers are asking anyone attending to practice social distancing and wear appropriate protective equipment. For those worried about standing near the crowd, feel free to honk in support from a car, Bellis said.
Contributing: Paul Egan, Kara Berg, Detroit Free Press; Jordan Culver, USA TODAY; Anna Staver and Cole Behrens, The Columbus Dispatch; Morgan Watkins, Joe Sonka and Jon Hale, Louisville Courier Journal; Terell Wilkins, The (St. George, Utah) Spectrum; Kim Strong, The York Daily Record.


usatoday--2020-04-17--Texas Gov. Greg Abbott eases some restrictions in fight against the coronavirus

Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott announced executive orders Friday that will ease some of the most severe restrictions imposed to combat the spread of COVID-19 .
However , all Texas classrooms , public and private , will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year .
Abbott said that all stores in Texas will be able to operate retail to-go beginning next Friday , one week from today .
Abbott said state parks will be reopened beginning this coming Monday .
Visitors must wear face coverings or masks and maintain a distance of six feet from non-family members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than five .
He said that effective April 22 , the ban on non-essential surgery will be loosened to allow doctors to diagnose and treat more conditions , like diagnostic testing for cancer , without having to get an exemption .
Abbott said he was imposing infection control procedures to better protect residents of nursing homes and senior living centers and to limit movement of staff between facilities .
Coronavirus : More people are changing their behavior due to coronavirus as concern ticks up , new survey shows Abbott also named a Strike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ James Huffines , with Mike Toomey as its chief operating officer .
Toomey , a former chief of staff to Govs .
Rick Perry and Bill Clements , has taken a leave of absence from Texas Lobby Group to take the position .
Lt .
Governor Dan Patrick , state House Speaker Dennis Bonnen , state Attorney General Ken Paxton , and state Comptroller Glenn Hegar will serve as consulting members of the strike force .
Abbott named Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner John Hellerstedt as chief medical officer of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical advisers - Dr. John Zerwas , executive vice-chancellor for health affairs at the University of Texas System ; Dr. Mark McClellan , former Food and Drug Administration commissioner and U.S. medicaid and medicare administrator , and Dr. Parker Hudson , assistant professor of internal medicine and infectious diseases at Dell Medical School and program director for the internal medicine residency .
“ They will work together to develop a medical architecture to comprehensively test and trace COVID-19 that will enable Texas to gradually and safely begin the process of returning to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abbott said .
The governor also named 39 business leaders representing the state ’ s regions and industries to a special advisory council who will share ideas to help businesses strategically reopen while containing the spread of COVID-19 .
Former state Sen. Kirk Watson , founding dean of the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs , will also serve on the council .
“ Together , we can bend the curve .
Together we can overcome this pandemic .
We can get folks back to work .
We can adopt safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Abbott said .
“ And , step by step , we will open Texas.
” Fact check : Support for $ 5 billion in Iran aid is n't holding up additional stimulus money Abbott thanked Texans for their cooperation through a very difficult period .
“ Because of efforts by everyone to slow the spread we ’ re beginning to see glimmers that the worst of COVID19 may soon be behind us , ” Abbott said .
“ Deaths , while far too high , will not come close to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefing comes after President Donald Trump ceded authority for reopening state economies to governors .
“ You ’ re going to call your own shots , ” Trump told governors on a conference call Thursday , according to an audio recording obtained by the Associated Press .
“ We ’ re going to be standing alongside you.
” But the president did release new guidelines for easing restrictions in areas with low transmission of the coronavirus , and a very gradual return to normalcy .
At his last news briefing on Monday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week I will outline both safe and healthy strategies where we can go about reopening businesses in Texas and revitalizing our economy.
” Trump and states : Trump calls to 'liberate ' states where protesters have demanded easing coronavirus lockdowns He also said that he would let Texans know whether classrooms would be opening again this spring .
Abbott made it clear that reopening the economy would be a slow , deliberate process .
“ This isn ’ t going to be a rushing the gates , everyone is able to suddenly reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Abbott said the process will be guided by a team that will put together a comprehensive strategy , with input from medical professionals , for “ what must be done for Texas to open back up.
” But , he said , “ Our primary goal in the state of Texas right now is to reduce the spread of the coronavirus , contain it , make sure the state is a safe place for all Texans.
” Speaking on Fox Monday night with Sean Hannity , Abbott said , “ Texans love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get back to work but we have to do so in a very safe way so we don ’ t regenerate the coronavirus in the state of Texas.
” Matt Gaetz : Rep. Matt Gaetz rents office space from donor , former client despite House rules : report “ But we ’ re working on strategies as we speak , with medical experts , with business leaders , to find the right strategy so that we can unleash our economy , ” Abbott said .
“ Texas was the No .
1 state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
We are leading in gross domestic product .
America needs Texas to get back to business.
” On Thursday , about 150 protesters demonstrated in front of the governor ’ s mansion calling for an end to Abbott ’ s stay-at-home order , which exempts those performing essential services or involved in essential activities , like grocery shopping or exercising .
On Tuesday , a group of leaders affiliated with the tea party wing of the Texas Republican Party wrote Abbott that , “ Texas should enact a clearly communicated and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texans to work , to church , and possibly back to school.
” But Texas Democrats cautioned that Abbott should be guided by sound medical advice , and by the need for far more testing than the state is now engaged in .
“ The governor is the chief executive of our state , ” state Rep. Chris Turner , D-Grand Prairie , chairman of the House Democratic Caucus , said in a conference call with reporters Thursday .
“ He should be guided by science and make the right decisions no matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from , and it ’ s just vitally important that whatever decisions he ’ s made are in the interests of the public health and are guided by public health experts and not by ideologically driven motivations which seem to be what some of the voices are driven by that we ’ re hearing.
” U.S. Sens .
John Cornyn , R-Texas , and Ted Cruz , R-Texas , were tapped Thursday to serve with other senators on a group aimed at reopening the economy .
“ There are reasonable steps we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the science and public health guidance — to begin safely reopening the economy and helping the American people return to work , from increasing the production of personal protective equipment to making testing more widely available , ” Cruz said .
“ As a part of President Trump ’ s bipartisan task force , I ’ ll be working to do just that.
” In a conference call Thursday with Texas reporters , Cornyn said it made sense to leave discretion to state and local leaders .
“ I think that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus has not been uniform in terms of where it has attacked , and different locations have different challenges and issues , ” Cornyn said .
“ Obviously , Midland , Texas , is not New York City , ” Cornyn said .
“ And it ’ s pretty obvious to all of us that this virus loves a crowd , but it can ’ t leap tall buildings in a single bound .
”

Jonathan Tilove, Austin American-Statesman

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott eases some restrictions in fight against the coronavirus
Show Caption Hide Caption President Trump lays out three-phase plan to reopen the U.S. President Trump and Coronavirus Task Force Response Coordinator Deborah Birx lay out their plan to reopen the United States in three phases. USA TODAY
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced executive orders Friday that will ease some of the most severe restrictions imposed to combat the spread of COVID-19.
However, all Texas classrooms, public and private, will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
Abbott said that all stores in Texas will be able to operate retail to-go beginning next Friday, one week from today.
Abbott said state parks will be reopened beginning this coming Monday. Visitors must wear face coverings or masks and maintain a distance of six feet from non-family members and not gather in groups of more than five.
He said that effective April 22, the ban on non-essential surgery will be loosened to allow doctors to diagnose and treat more conditions, like diagnostic testing for cancer, without having to get an exemption.
Abbott said he was imposing infection control procedures to better protect residents of nursing homes and senior living centers and to limit movement of staff between facilities.
Coronavirus: More people are changing their behavior due to coronavirus as concern ticks up, new survey shows
Abbott also named a Strike Force to Open Texas led by banker James Huffines, with Mike Toomey as its chief operating officer. Toomey, a former chief of staff to Govs. Rick Perry and Bill Clements, has taken a leave of absence from Texas Lobby Group to take the position.
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, state House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, state Attorney General Ken Paxton, and state Comptroller Glenn Hegar will serve as consulting members of the strike force.
Abbott named Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner John Hellerstedt as chief medical officer of the strike force, supported by three chief medical advisers - Dr. John Zerwas, executive vice-chancellor for health affairs at the University of Texas System; Dr. Mark McClellan, former Food and Drug Administration commissioner and U.S. medicaid and medicare administrator, and Dr. Parker Hudson, assistant professor of internal medicine and infectious diseases at Dell Medical School and program director for the internal medicine residency.
“They will work together to develop a medical architecture to comprehensively test and trace COVID-19 that will enable Texas to gradually and safely begin the process of returning to work and returning to other activities,” Abbott said.
The governor also named 39 business leaders representing the state’s regions and industries to a special advisory council who will share ideas to help businesses strategically reopen while containing the spread of COVID-19. Former state Sen. Kirk Watson, founding dean of the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs, will also serve on the council.
“Together, we can bend the curve. Together we can overcome this pandemic. We can get folks back to work. We can adopt safe strategies that prevent the spread of COVID-19,” Abbott said. “And, step by step, we will open Texas.”
Fact check: Support for $5 billion in Iran aid isn't holding up additional stimulus money
Abbott thanked Texans for their cooperation through a very difficult period.
“Because of efforts by everyone to slow the spread we’re beginning to see glimmers that the worst of COVID19 may soon be behind us,” Abbott said. “Deaths, while far too high, will not come close to the early dire predictions.”
Abbott’s briefing comes after President Donald Trump ceded authority for reopening state economies to governors.
“You’re going to call your own shots,” Trump told governors on a conference call Thursday, according to an audio recording obtained by the Associated Press. “We’re going to be standing alongside you.”
But the president did release new guidelines for easing restrictions in areas with low transmission of the coronavirus, and a very gradual return to normalcy.
At his last news briefing on Monday, Abbott said that, “later this week I will outline both safe and healthy strategies where we can go about reopening businesses in Texas and revitalizing our economy.”
Trump and states: Trump calls to 'liberate' states where protesters have demanded easing coronavirus lockdowns
He also said that he would let Texans know whether classrooms would be opening again this spring.
Abbott made it clear that reopening the economy would be a slow, deliberate process.
“This isn’t going to be a rushing the gates, everyone is able to suddenly reopen all at once,” he said.
Abbott said the process will be guided by a team that will put together a comprehensive strategy, with input from medical professionals, for “what must be done for Texas to open back up.”
But, he said, “Our primary goal in the state of Texas right now is to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, contain it, make sure the state is a safe place for all Texans.”
Speaking on Fox Monday night with Sean Hannity, Abbott said, “Texans love to work and we want them to get back to work but we have to do so in a very safe way so we don’t regenerate the coronavirus in the state of Texas.”
Matt Gaetz: Rep. Matt Gaetz rents office space from donor, former client despite House rules: report
“But we’re working on strategies as we speak, with medical experts, with business leaders, to find the right strategy so that we can unleash our economy,” Abbott said. “Texas was the No. 1 state for job creation in the nation last year. We are leading in gross domestic product. America needs Texas to get back to business.”
On Thursday, about 150 protesters demonstrated in front of the governor’s mansion calling for an end to Abbott’s stay-at-home order, which exempts those performing essential services or involved in essential activities, like grocery shopping or exercising.
On Tuesday, a group of leaders affiliated with the tea party wing of the Texas Republican Party wrote Abbott that, “Texas should enact a clearly communicated and citizen-driven plan to prudently and carefully return Texans to work, to church, and possibly back to school.”
But Texas Democrats cautioned that Abbott should be guided by sound medical advice, and by the need for far more testing than the state is now engaged in.
“The governor is the chief executive of our state,” state Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said in a conference call with reporters Thursday. “He should be guided by science and make the right decisions no matter how many different places he feels pressure from, and it’s just vitally important that whatever decisions he’s made are in the interests of the public health and are guided by public health experts and not by ideologically driven motivations which seem to be what some of the voices are driven by that we’re hearing.”
'Work conquers all': Protests erupt in state capitals nationwide over coronavirus restrictions
U.S. Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, were tapped Thursday to serve with other senators on a group aimed at reopening the economy.
“There are reasonable steps we can and must take now — based on the science and public health guidance — to begin safely reopening the economy and helping the American people return to work, from increasing the production of personal protective equipment to making testing more widely available,” Cruz said. “As a part of President Trump’s bipartisan task force, I’ll be working to do just that.”
In a conference call Thursday with Texas reporters, Cornyn said it made sense to leave discretion to state and local leaders.
“I think that’s entirely appropriate given the fact that this virus has not been uniform in terms of where it has attacked, and different locations have different challenges and issues,” Cornyn said.
“Obviously, Midland, Texas, is not New York City,” Cornyn said. “And it’s pretty obvious to all of us that this virus loves a crowd, but it can’t leap tall buildings in a single bound.”


usatoday--2020-04-17--More people are changing their behavior due to coronavirus as concern ticks up, new survey shows

WASHINGTON – As calls to reopen the country come from the White House and elsewhere , new data show Americans are falling in line more with social distancing guidelines , like staying at home and not traveling , as concern over the pandemic has ticked up .
Eighty-one percent of Americans say they have not left their home for a prolonged period of time , a 9-percentage point jump compared with 72 % two weeks ago , according to the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project with USA TODAY .
There also was a 9-percentage point increase in people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , up to 86 % from 75 % two weeks ago .
Seventy-four percent of people reported canceling travel plans , for either work or pleasure – a 7-percentage point increase from two weeks ago .
The Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project , with USA TODAY , is a large-scale study of the American electorate .
Throughout the 2020 election cycle , the researchers aim to conduct 500,000 interviews about policies and the presidential candidates .
The new data comes as President Donald Trump and many governors are debating when states should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of coronavirus .
Trump has said he wants to begin reopening America on May 1 , but many states have already announced they will keep their restrictions in places until at least the second week of May .
The federal government rolled out new guidelines for reopening communities on Thursday .
More : Key swing states Michigan and Pennsylvania are among hardest hit by coronavirus-fueled job losses Hundreds of people in several states also protested this week , urging their elected officials to rescind stay-at-home orders and other restrictions as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four weeks , 22 million people have filed unemployment claims for the first time .
`` Is the American public getting unbearably antsy ?
I 'm not seeing it reflected in the data , at least not yet , '' Robert Griffin , research director for the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group , said of the recent survey .
He added that restrictions in place like stay-at-home orders or urging increased washing of hands are `` still policies that are receiving a really high level of support among the American public . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ washed their hands more often than they typically do stayed relatively the same ( 94 % compared with 92 % two weeks ago ) as did the number of people who said they had bought extra groceries or household supplies ( 73 % compared with 72 % two weeks ago . )
The number of people concerned about coronavirus also saw a small increase .
Sixty-three percent of Americans are very concerned about the coronavirus pandemic , compared to 59 % two weeks ago , according to the survey .
While protesters in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Again or other Trump-supporting gear , the Nationscape survey showed Republicans ’ concern over coronavirus has increased by five percentage points in the last two weeks , up to 56 % from 51 % .
Survey : Americans say the economy is getting worse in much larger numbers than weeks ago There has also been a 5-percentage point increase in concern among independents , up to a majority 54 % from 49 % .
The percentage of Democrats who are concerned has stayed relatively flat , at 72 % from 70 % two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conducted between April 2 to 8 , with 6,152 people surveyed .
It has a margin of error of +/- 2.2 percentage points .
The earlier survey was conducted between March 18 to 26 , with 5,970 people surveyed .
It has a margin of error of +/- 2.1 percentage points .

More people are changing their behavior due to coronavirus as concern ticks up, new survey shows
Show Caption Hide Caption Stay-at-home order protested with massive gridlock in Michigan Thousands of cars jammed streets surrounding Michigan's state capitol in protest of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's stay-at-home order. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – As calls to reopen the country come from the White House and elsewhere, new data show Americans are falling in line more with social distancing guidelines, like staying at home and not traveling, as concern over the pandemic has ticked up.
Eighty-one percent of Americans say they have not left their home for a prolonged period of time, a 9-percentage point jump compared with 72% two weeks ago, according to the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project with USA TODAY.
There also was a 9-percentage point increase in people who said they stopped visiting family and friends, up to 86% from 75% two weeks ago. Seventy-four percent of people reported canceling travel plans, for either work or pleasure – a 7-percentage point increase from two weeks ago.
The Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project, with USA TODAY, is a large-scale study of the American electorate. Throughout the 2020 election cycle, the researchers aim to conduct 500,000 interviews about policies and the presidential candidates.
The new data comes as President Donald Trump and many governors are debating when states should loosen restrictions in place to help stop the spread of coronavirus. Trump has said he wants to begin reopening America on May 1, but many states have already announced they will keep their restrictions in places until at least the second week of May. The federal government rolled out new guidelines for reopening communities on Thursday.
More: Key swing states Michigan and Pennsylvania are among hardest hit by coronavirus-fueled job losses
Hundreds of people in several states also protested this week, urging their elected officials to rescind stay-at-home orders and other restrictions as the economic ramifications grow. In the past four weeks, 22 million people have filed unemployment claims for the first time.
"Is the American public getting unbearably antsy? I'm not seeing it reflected in the data, at least not yet," Robert Griffin, research director for the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group, said of the recent survey. He added that restrictions in place like stay-at-home orders or urging increased washing of hands are "still policies that are receiving a really high level of support among the American public."
'Work conquers all': Protests erupt in state capitals nationwide over coronavirus restrictions
The number of people who said they washed their hands more often than they typically do stayed relatively the same (94% compared with 92% two weeks ago) as did the number of people who said they had bought extra groceries or household supplies (73% compared with 72% two weeks ago.)
The number of people concerned about coronavirus also saw a small increase.
Sixty-three percent of Americans are very concerned about the coronavirus pandemic, compared to 59% two weeks ago, according to the survey.
While protesters in several states have worn Make America Great Again or other Trump-supporting gear, the Nationscape survey showed Republicans’ concern over coronavirus has increased by five percentage points in the last two weeks, up to 56% from 51%.
Survey: Americans say the economy is getting worse in much larger numbers than weeks ago
There has also been a 5-percentage point increase in concern among independents, up to a majority 54% from 49%. The percentage of Democrats who are concerned has stayed relatively flat, at 72% from 70% two weeks ago.
The recent survey was conducted between April 2 to 8, with 6,152 people surveyed. It has a margin of error of +/- 2.2 percentage points. The earlier survey was conducted between March 18 to 26, with 5,970 people surveyed. It has a margin of error of +/- 2.1 percentage points.


usatoday--2020-04-17--President Trump sets benchmarks, no deadlines for reopening US

President Donald Trump rolls out benchmarks for reopening US President Donald Trump says governors will decide on when to reopen @ @ @ @ @ he outlined .

President Donald Trump rolls out benchmarks for reopening US
President Donald Trump says governors will decide on when to reopen their states based upon benchmarks he outlined.
USA TODAY, Wochit


usatoday--2020-04-17--Rep. Matt Gaetz rents office space from donor, former client despite House rules: report

Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz has been renting office space , with taxpayer money , from a longtime friend , donor and former legal client , despite House of Representatives rules against such practices , Politico reported Friday .
Gaetz and Florida real estate developer Collier Merrill both told Politico in interviews that the property is being rented below a market rate , but Gaetz later tweeted it is `` at or below market rate . ''
The congressman has paid nearly $ 200,000 for the space since taking office in 2017 .
House rules state that members must certify they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or continue to have , a professional or legal relationship ( except as a landlord and tenant ) . ''
Under the rules , the lease agreement must also be at a fair market value .
Gaetz says the agreement was authorized by the House Administrative Counsel , but a spokesperson told Politico the Florida congressman did n't feel the need to disclose his relationship with Merrill .
Coronavirus updates : Some Florida beaches to reopen ; New Jersey nursing home has history of citations ; US deaths top 33k The outlet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Gaetz represented Merrill and his company as a lawyer in the past and attended fundraisers at one of Merrill 's restaurants .
Merrill donated gift certificates to children selected by Gaetz as winners of a congressional art contest , and has also been cited praising Gaetz 's work .
“ It ’ s not difficult ( at ) all for me to explain to you that I get rent at below market rate in an agreement approved by the House of Representatives , a friend of mine donates gift certificate to high-achieving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a former [ Pensacola Bay Area ] Chamber of Commerce president on business issues and I happen to cite that person in a press release about legislation that would help all restaurants in my district equally , ” Gaetz told Politico .
“ There is nothing difficult about any of that.
” Merrill 's Empire Partners LLC charges Gaetz $ 5,000 per month for a more than 3,000-square-foot floor at Seville Tower in Pensacola , Fla .
The money comes out of his member expenses allotment .
“ I probably be damned if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't .
If I [ set the rent ] too cheap , I 'm probably doing him a favor , if I do it too expensive , he ’ s doing me a favor , '' Merrill told Politico .
New coronavirus guidelines : Trump aims at reopening parts of US , lifting restrictions In a series of tweets posted ahead of the report being published , Gaetz defended his agreement with Merrill , calling his lease agreement `` at or below market rate '' in a change from his earlier statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` smear piece '' and accused Sen. Richard Burr , R-N.C. , of planting the story .
Gaetz said his office spends less than the amount it is allocated and `` returns $ 500k 2 taxpayers . ''
`` .
@ politico is writing a smear piece on me as shills for the @ SenatorBurr camp .
( Probably in exchange for some other intel story . )
'' `` So I ’ ve been busted possibly getting a deal for taxpayers while allowing a beloved , multi-generation local community leader to donate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Art , '' he said .
Burr and other senators were revealed to have sold off stock holdings ahead of the market crash due to the spread of the coronavirus .
Gaetz has publicly called for Burr , who denied wrongdoing and asked for an ethics review into his own conduct , to resign from Congress .
A Politico reporter clarified that the investigation of Gaetz 's rent agreement started nearly a year ago , long before Burr 's market dealings .

Rep. Matt Gaetz rents office space from donor, former client despite House rules: report
Show Caption Hide Caption President Donald Trump gets defensive at coronavirus briefing President Donald Trump turned a coronavirus White House briefing into a defense of his response actions to the deadly pandemic and confronted media. USA TODAY, USA TODAY
Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz has been renting office space, with taxpayer money, from a longtime friend, donor and former legal client, despite House of Representatives rules against such practices, Politico reported Friday.
Gaetz and Florida real estate developer Collier Merrill both told Politico in interviews that the property is being rented below a market rate, but Gaetz later tweeted it is "at or below market rate." The congressman has paid nearly $200,000 for the space since taking office in 2017.
House rules state that members must certify they are not "relatives nor have had, or continue to have, a professional or legal relationship (except as a landlord and tenant)." Under the rules, the lease agreement must also be at a fair market value.
Gaetz says the agreement was authorized by the House Administrative Counsel, but a spokesperson told Politico the Florida congressman didn't feel the need to disclose his relationship with Merrill. The Office of Congressional Ethics notified Gaetz's office in a July 1 letter that a preliminary review into the matter was terminated.
Coronavirus updates: Some Florida beaches to reopen; New Jersey nursing home has history of citations; US deaths top 33k
The outlet found the two have a decades-long relationship. Gaetz represented Merrill and his company as a lawyer in the past and attended fundraisers at one of Merrill's restaurants. Merrill donated gift certificates to children selected by Gaetz as winners of a congressional art contest, and has also been cited praising Gaetz's work.
“It’s not difficult (at) all for me to explain to you that I get rent at below market rate in an agreement approved by the House of Representatives, a friend of mine donates gift certificate to high-achieving students and I seek the counsel of a former [Pensacola Bay Area] Chamber of Commerce president on business issues and I happen to cite that person in a press release about legislation that would help all restaurants in my district equally,” Gaetz told Politico. “There is nothing difficult about any of that.”
Merrill's Empire Partners LLC charges Gaetz $5,000 per month for a more than 3,000-square-foot floor at Seville Tower in Pensacola, Fla. The money comes out of his member expenses allotment.
“I probably be damned if I do, damned if I didn't. If I [set the rent] too cheap, I'm probably doing him a favor, if I do it too expensive, he’s doing me a favor," Merrill told Politico.
New coronavirus guidelines: Trump aims at reopening parts of US, lifting restrictions
In a series of tweets posted ahead of the report being published, Gaetz defended his agreement with Merrill, calling his lease agreement "at or below market rate" in a change from his earlier statement. He said the outlet was writing a "smear piece" and accused Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., of planting the story.
Gaetz said his office spends less than the amount it is allocated and "returns $500k 2 taxpayers."
".@politico is writing a smear piece on me as shills for the @SenatorBurr camp. (Probably in exchange for some other intel story.)"
"So I’ve been busted possibly getting a deal for taxpayers while allowing a beloved, multi-generation local community leader to donate some free food to students who excel in Art," he said.
They will compare to Burr’s actual cheating but remember this:
Burr got a deal for himself (probably more than one).
At worst, I got a deal for taxpayers (and some fish sandwiches for students) never ever realizing personal financial gain as a consequence of elected office. — Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) April 16, 2020
Burr and other senators were revealed to have sold off stock holdings ahead of the market crash due to the spread of the coronavirus. Gaetz has publicly called for Burr, who denied wrongdoing and asked for an ethics review into his own conduct, to resign from Congress.


usatoday--2020-04-17--DOJ team reviewing conditions at virus-plagued federal prisons; IG leading separate probe

A Justice Department team has been reviewing conditions at coronavirus-plagued federal prisons where 18 inmates have died in the past month and as infections of inmates and officers continue to mount throughout the system , a Justice official said Thursday .
A group of senior advisers to Attorney General William Barr have conducted in-person inspections of the hardest hit units in Louisiana , Ohio and North Carolina .
A virtual inspection was scheduled at the facility in Lompoc , Calif. , where 69 inmates and 22 staffers have been infected , said the official who is not authorized to comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michael Horowitz , also is conducting a separate inquiry into conditions at the agency .
The low-security facility in Oakdale , Louisiana , has reported seven deaths so far ; six inmates assigned to the Elkton , Ohio prison have died ; there have been four deaths in Butner , North Carolina ; and one at San Pedro , Calif. At least 473 inmates and 279 staffers have been infected across the bureau 's system of 122 facilities .
Infected inmates sue : 'People are falling sick every day : ' Lawsuit accuses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Louisiana prison There was no immediate timeline for when the review would be completed , and the official said that Barr remained confident in the current leadership at the agency long troubled staffing shortages .
Michael Carvajal , the current director of the federal Bureau of Prisons , was appointed by Barr just two months ago as part of a continuing leadership makeover following the August suicide of accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein .
Carvajal , a career prison official who had been serving as an assistant director , was elevated to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Barr had appointed Hawk Sawyer to serve as director in the days after Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell , prompting a bureau-wide shakeup of the nation 's largest prison system .
As part of Barr 's review , the inspection team met with local health officials from surrounding communities in each of the locations to assess the broader impact of the outbreaks .
Earlier this month , Barr ordered an expedited release of prisoners to home confinement at the troubled facilities in Oakdale , Elkton and at Danbury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spiking .
`` We have to move with dispatch in using home confinement when appropriate to move vulnerable inmates out these institutions , '' Barr said .
Attorneys for Oakdale inmates have sued for the release of hundreds of prisoners there , claiming that the government has not moved fast enough .

DOJ team reviewing conditions at virus-plagued federal prisons; IG leading separate probe
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19 pandemic myths debunked There is a lot of misinformation out there about coronavirus. We sort the facts from falsehoods. USA TODAY, Wochit
A Justice Department team has been reviewing conditions at coronavirus-plagued federal prisons where 18 inmates have died in the past month and as infections of inmates and officers continue to mount throughout the system, a Justice official said Thursday.
A group of senior advisers to Attorney General William Barr have conducted in-person inspections of the hardest hit units in Louisiana, Ohio and North Carolina. A virtual inspection was scheduled at the facility in Lompoc, Calif., where 69 inmates and 22 staffers have been infected, said the official who is not authorized to comment publicly.
Justice's inspector general, Michael Horowitz, also is conducting a separate inquiry into conditions at the agency.
The low-security facility in Oakdale, Louisiana, has reported seven deaths so far; six inmates assigned to the Elkton, Ohio prison have died; there have been four deaths in Butner, North Carolina; and one at San Pedro, Calif.
At least 473 inmates and 279 staffers have been infected across the bureau's system of 122 facilities.
Infected inmates sue: 'People are falling sick every day:' Lawsuit accuses feds of 'slow-walking' releases at troubled Louisiana prison
Lockdown: Federal prison officials order system-wide lockdown in bid to limit coronavirus spread
There was no immediate timeline for when the review would be completed, and the official said that Barr remained confident in the current leadership at the agency long troubled staffing shortages.
Michael Carvajal, the current director of the federal Bureau of Prisons, was appointed by Barr just two months ago as part of a continuing leadership makeover following the August suicide of accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Carvajal, a career prison official who had been serving as an assistant director, was elevated to the top spot to succeed Kathleen Hawk Sawyer. Barr had appointed Hawk Sawyer to serve as director in the days after Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell, prompting a bureau-wide shakeup of the nation's largest prison system.
As part of Barr's review, the inspection team met with local health officials from surrounding communities in each of the locations to assess the broader impact of the outbreaks.
Earlier this month, Barr ordered an expedited release of prisoners to home confinement at the troubled facilities in Oakdale, Elkton and at Danbury, Connecticut, where infections had been spiking.
"We have to move with dispatch in using home confinement when appropriate to move vulnerable inmates out these institutions," Barr said.
Attorneys for Oakdale inmates have sued for the release of hundreds of prisoners there, claiming that the government has not moved fast enough.


usatoday--2020-04-19--'It's a terrific symbol': Mnuchin takes credit for adding Trump's name to coronavirus stimulus check

WASHINGTON – Last week , President Donald Trump 's critics decried an unprecedented move to add his name to the $ 1,200 relief checks sent to taxpayers as part of the more than $ 2 trillion coronavirus rescue package .
The Washington Post , which first reported the story , said Trump asked Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to add his signature to the checks .
Sunday , Mnuchin said it was his idea to include the president 's name .
`` We did put the president 's name on the check , '' Mnuchin told CNN 's `` State of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my idea .
He is the president , and I think it 's a terrific symbol to the American public . ''
Trump 's printed name is on the memo line on the left side of the check because he is not authorized to sign Treasury Department checks .
Normally , an official from the department 's Bureau of the Fiscal Service signs the checks .
Nina Olson , the founder of the Center for Taxpayer Rights and former taxpayer advocate for the IRS , told USA TODAY the president does not normally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the perception of political patronage . ''
Mnuchin told CNN , `` The president could have been authorized to sign the checks , '' but `` that would have slowed things down .
We did n't want that . ''
Unprecedented : Trump 's name to be printed on $ 1,200 coronavirus stimulus checks going out to Americans The $ 2 trillion rescue package aims to buoy the U.S. economy during the coronavirus pandemic , which caused most of the country to shut down to slow the spread .
The Post reported that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the checks going out , but a Treasury Department spokeswoman said in a statement , `` There is absolutely no delay whatsoever . ''
Mnuchin has said the checks would go out Monday , but he did not repeat that expectation Sunday .
Millions of Americans who have their bank account information on file with the IRS have already received the funds electronically , which Mnuchin called a `` much safer '' way of distributing money .
The direct deposits do not include any mention of Trump .
Last week , House Speaker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president 's name on the checks was `` another shameful example of President Trump 's catastrophic failure to treat this crisis with the urgency it demands . ''
During a White House news conference Wednesday , Trump said he `` did n't know too much about '' his name being added to the checks .
`` I do understand it ’ s not delaying anything , and I ’ m satisfied with that .
I don ’ t imagine it ’ s a big deal , '' he said , `` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happy to get a big , fat , beautiful check , and my name is on it . ''

'It's a terrific symbol': Mnuchin takes credit for adding Trump's name to coronavirus stimulus checks
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 – Last week, President Donald Trump's critics decried an unprecedented move to add his name to the $1,200 relief checks sent to taxpayers as part of the more than $2 trillion coronavirus rescue package.
The Washington Post, which first reported the story, said Trump asked Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to add his signature to the checks. Sunday, Mnuchin said it was his idea to include the president's name.
"We did put the president's name on the check," Mnuchin told CNN's "State of the Union." "That was my idea. He is the president, and I think it's a terrific symbol to the American public."
Trump's printed name is on the memo line on the left side of the check because he is not authorized to sign Treasury Department checks. Normally, an official from the department's Bureau of the Fiscal Service signs the checks.
Nina Olson, the founder of the Center for Taxpayer Rights and former taxpayer advocate for the IRS, told USA TODAY the president does not normally sign government checks "to protect against the perception of political patronage."
Mnuchin told CNN, "The president could have been authorized to sign the checks," but "that would have slowed things down. We didn't want that."
Unprecedented: Trump's name to be printed on $1,200 coronavirus stimulus checks going out to Americans
The $2 trillion rescue package aims to buoy the U.S. economy during the coronavirus pandemic, which caused most of the country to shut down to slow the spread.
The Post reported that the addition of Trump's name slowed the checks going out, but a Treasury Department spokeswoman said in a statement, "There is absolutely no delay whatsoever."
Mnuchin has said the checks would go out Monday, but he did not repeat that expectation Sunday.
Millions of Americans who have their bank account information on file with the IRS have already received the funds electronically, which Mnuchin called a "much safer" way of distributing money. The direct deposits do not include any mention of Trump.
Last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said including the president's name on the checks was "another shameful example of President Trump's catastrophic failure to treat this crisis with the urgency it demands."
During a White House news conference Wednesday, Trump said he "didn't know too much about" his name being added to the checks.
"I do understand it’s not delaying anything, and I’m satisfied with that. I don’t imagine it’s a big deal," he said, "I’m sure people will be very happy to get a big, fat, beautiful check, and my name is on it."


usatoday--2020-04-19--Mnuchin says deal 'very close' on billions more for small-business loans

WASHINGTON – Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Sunday a deal with Democrats to replenish an emergency small-business loan program is `` very close '' and Congress could approve additional funding for the program this week .
The program designed to keep paychecks going out to workers amid the economic shutdown caused by coronavirus was paused Thursday after it burned through its initial $ 350 billion .
`` I think we 're very close to a deal today , and I 'm hopeful that we can get that done , '' Mnuchin said on CNN 's `` State of the Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be approved by the Senate on Monday and the House could vote on it by Wednesday .
Trump at a news conference Sunday , also telegraphed that a deal was near .
`` We have some very good negotiations going on right now .
And I think you could have a nice answer tomorrow but we 'll see , '' he said .
The program was included in a $ 2 trillion rescue package approved by Congress that President Donald Trump signed into law at the end of March .
When it ran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blamed each other .
Democrats insisted that a bill to replenish the program should include money for hospitals and states , as well as additional protections to make sure the money is more evenly distributed after complaints that the funds had largely gone to larger corporations and chains .
Republicans accused Democrats of playing politics and urged quick passage of a bill as social distancing restrictions ravaged the bottom lines of businesses .
Senate Republicans tried to pass a bill April 9 to inject $ 250 billion into the program , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the quick depletion of the funds as evidence of the program 's success .
`` We 're incredibly pleased with the participation rate , and because of that , we want Congress to approve more funds right away , '' Mnuchin said .
He said an additional $ 300 billion `` should be sufficient to reach almost everybody '' after dismissing some estimates that at least $ 1 trillion would be needed .
Mnuchin said the new bill would include $ 75 billion to help overwhelmed hospitals and $ 25 billion to increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said Trump `` is willing to consider '' allocating more money to the states in future legislation .
Several governors have warned that their resources are depleted by the coronavirus response and that they may have to soon cut essential services .
Trump said he spoke with Senate Republicans on Sunday .
A senior GOP leadership aide said Democratic requests for additional state and local government funding , and SNAP benefits , will not be included in the final deal '' The negotiations are going on , '' Pence said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the success of the president ’ s program to provide payroll support , and we ’ re going to work to expand that so that no one working in a small business in America would have to worry about missing a paycheck . ''
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , was also optimistic a deal was near .
`` I 'm very hopeful we could come to an agreement tonight , or early tomorrow morning , '' Schumer said on `` Fox News Sunday , '' though he cautioned there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work out .
He said he and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , are happy with the way the talks are going .
`` Many of the things we have asked for on the banking side , on the testing side , on the hospital side , they 're going along with .
So we feel pretty good , '' Schumer said .
Schumer said the bill would set aside $ 60 billion in disaster loans `` to make sure it goes to the rural areas , to the minority areas '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relationships with the banks distributing the loans .
Mnuchin touted the disaster loan program as a way to get more money to smaller businesses , though he put the figure at $ 50 billion .
`` If you had a connection with a bank , it was pretty easy to get a loan .
If you did n't – from one end of the country to the other – we have been hearing that people ca n't get the loans : the local restaurant , the local barbershop , the local drugstore or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the disbursement of the first $ 350 billion .
Pelosi told `` Fox News Sunday '' she was `` very pleased at the progress being made , '' and she expected there would be an agreement `` soon . ''
The speaker defended her efforts to add items to the legislation to refund the Paycheck Protection Program , which Republicans said delayed much-needed funds .
She pushed back on the idea that House Democrats asked for too much in the new bill .
`` We want to add more money there , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It is very urgent though that we support our police and fire , our health care workers and our nurses , our teachers . ''
`` Everything that we 're doing is about the coronavirus , understand that , '' she said .
`` We 're not going afield in any other thing . ''
Though Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have touted the testing capacity of the USA as the best in the world , Mnuchin said Sunday there is wide agreement that more testing needs to be available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen under the three-phase plan outlined by the president last week .
`` Everybody agrees we need more testing , '' Mnuchin said .
`` We 're now up to about a million tests a week we can do , which I think should give people a lot more confidence .
And that is ramping up very quickly . ''
Schumer said Democrats asked for $ 30 billion to boost the manufacturing of the tests , increase the availability of the supplies needed to conduct the tests and `` make free testing far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states should be responsible for their own testing , but Schumer said governors `` need federal help '' and `` ca n't do the testing on their own . ''
According to Schumer , when the president spoke to business leaders about what was needed to reopen the country , `` the number one call was for more testing and more federal involvement in the testing .
You ca n't have it state by state . ''
`` I believe that the president has n't been focused enough on testing , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a single official to oversee and coordinate the effort .

Mnuchin says deal 'very close' on billions more for small-business loans
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: How to support small businesses during COVID-19 pandemic Here are three ways consumers can help support small businesses who are struggling financially during the coronavirus pandemic. USA TODAY, Wochit
WASHINGTON – Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Sunday a deal with Democrats to replenish an emergency small-business loan program is "very close" and Congress could approve additional funding for the program this week.
The program designed to keep paychecks going out to workers amid the economic shutdown caused by coronavirus was paused Thursday after it burned through its initial $350 billion.
"I think we're very close to a deal today, and I'm hopeful that we can get that done," Mnuchin said on CNN's "State of the Union." He said the deal could be approved by the Senate on Monday and the House could vote on it by Wednesday.
Trump at a news conference Sunday, also telegraphed that a deal was near.
"We have some very good negotiations going on right now. And I think you could have a nice answer tomorrow but we'll see," he said.
The program was included in a $2 trillion rescue package approved by Congress that President Donald Trump signed into law at the end of March. When it ran out of money, Democrats and Republicans blamed each other.
Coronavirus: How much businesses and hospitals will get from stimulus Here is how the federal government is stepping in to support small businesses and health care providers. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Democrats insisted that a bill to replenish the program should include money for hospitals and states, as well as additional protections to make sure the money is more evenly distributed after complaints that the funds had largely gone to larger corporations and chains. Republicans accused Democrats of playing politics and urged quick passage of a bill as social distancing restrictions ravaged the bottom lines of businesses. Senate Republicans tried to pass a bill April 9 to inject $250 billion into the program, but it was blocked by Democrats.
Mnuchin cited the quick depletion of the funds as evidence of the program's success.
"We're incredibly pleased with the participation rate, and because of that, we want Congress to approve more funds right away," Mnuchin said. He said an additional $300 billion "should be sufficient to reach almost everybody" after dismissing some estimates that at least $1 trillion would be needed.
Mnuchin said the new bill would include $75 billion to help overwhelmed hospitals and $25 billion to increase the capacity to test for the virus. He said Trump "is willing to consider" allocating more money to the states in future legislation. Several governors have warned that their resources are depleted by the coronavirus response and that they may have to soon cut essential services.
Trump said he spoke with Senate Republicans on Sunday. A senior GOP leadership aide said Democratic requests for additional state and local government funding, and SNAP benefits, will not be included in the final deal
Vice President Mike Pence agreed a deal is "very close."
"The negotiations are going on," Pence said. "I think every American has seen the success of the president’s program to provide payroll support, and we’re going to work to expand that so that no one working in a small business in America would have to worry about missing a paycheck."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was also optimistic a deal was near.
"I'm very hopeful we could come to an agreement tonight, or early tomorrow morning," Schumer said on "Fox News Sunday," though he cautioned there were "a lot of details" to work out. He said he and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., are happy with the way the talks are going.
"Many of the things we have asked for on the banking side, on the testing side, on the hospital side, they're going along with. So we feel pretty good," Schumer said.
Schumer said the bill would set aside $60 billion in disaster loans "to make sure it goes to the rural areas, to the minority areas" and to businesses that did not have relationships with the banks distributing the loans. Mnuchin touted the disaster loan program as a way to get more money to smaller businesses, though he put the figure at $50 billion.
Coronavirus: Whole Foods converting stores to online-only and delivery Whole Foods Market is converting several stores to only fulfill online orders for grocery delivery because of the coronavirus pandemic. USA TODAY
"If you had a connection with a bank, it was pretty easy to get a loan. If you didn't – from one end of the country to the other – we have been hearing that people can't get the loans: the local restaurant, the local barbershop, the local drugstore or even startup businesses," Schumer said of the disbursement of the first $350 billion.
Pelosi told "Fox News Sunday" she was "very pleased at the progress being made," and she expected there would be an agreement "soon."
The speaker defended her efforts to add items to the legislation to refund the Paycheck Protection Program, which Republicans said delayed much-needed funds. She pushed back on the idea that House Democrats asked for too much in the new bill.
"We want to add more money there," she said of the small-business loans. "It is very urgent though that we support our police and fire, our health care workers and our nurses, our teachers."
"Everything that we're doing is about the coronavirus, understand that," she said. "We're not going afield in any other thing."
Though Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have touted the testing capacity of the USA as the best in the world, Mnuchin said Sunday there is wide agreement that more testing needs to be available for the country to safely begin to reopen under the three-phase plan outlined by the president last week.
"Everybody agrees we need more testing," Mnuchin said. "We're now up to about a million tests a week we can do, which I think should give people a lot more confidence. And that is ramping up very quickly."
Schumer said Democrats asked for $30 billion to boost the manufacturing of the tests, increase the availability of the supplies needed to conduct the tests and "make free testing far more widespread."
Trump suggested the states should be responsible for their own testing, but Schumer said governors "need federal help" and "can't do the testing on their own."
According to Schumer, when the president spoke to business leaders about what was needed to reopen the country, "the number one call was for more testing and more federal involvement in the testing. You can't have it state by state."
"I believe that the president hasn't been focused enough on testing," he said, calling for Trump to appoint a single official to oversee and coordinate the effort.
Contributing: David Jackson


usatoday--2020-04-21--California legislators demand more answers about spending on COVID-19 response

In a hearing that stretched more than four hours Monday , California ’ s Assembly Budget Committee held its first legislative oversight hearing on how Gov .
Gavin Newsom plans to lead the state through the coronavirus pandemic — and how an estimated $ 7 billion in emergency expenses are being spent .
With the deadline to rework the state ’ s budget just weeks away , the 11 legislators spread across the committee room expressed frustration over how little information they have received so far .
`` The emergency powers that were granted were with an understanding that this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discreet time , ” said Assemblyman Phil Ting , a Democrat from San Francisco who chairs the Budget Committee .
“ It was n't the sense that there was a blank check or we would just be notified after expenditures were already committed to.
” Gabriel Petek , an analyst with the State ’ s independent Legislative Analyst 's Office , recommended that the state must soon shift from reactive to proactive in order to address the expected financial consequences from the crisis .
Saying that “ we have moved on from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said the legislature would need more detailed information going forward , specifically on Newsom ’ s plans for the coming months , the costs of those plans , and how the governor would propose to pay for them .
That information , Petek said , has not yet been made available to lawmakers .
While most of the legislators took time to champion the governor ’ s quick actions to issue statewide social distancing orders and success at `` flattening the curve '' of California ’ s confirmed cases of the deadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been left out of key-decisions — and that often , they learned about statewide orders from the media or in real-time during Newsom ’ s daily updates .
“ The need to get accurate information to the constituents about what was happening was tough , ” Assemblyman William Brough , Dana Point Republican , said .
Assemblyman Jim Wood , a Democrat from Santa Rosa , opened his comments by commending the governor ’ s work , but insisted it had been hampered by resistance to include lawmakers in key discussions and called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : California could be the state hit hardest financially by coronavirus .
Is it ready ?
Assemblyman Adam Gray , D-Merced , said he “ applauded the administration for the multi-faceted approach to slow the spread , ” and added that a lot has been done right .
“ Having said that , ” he added , “ it ’ s time to see what we can do better . ''
He also expressed concerns about how rural communities might be left out of recovery plans , with much of the focus on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We are often told in rural California that we are going to be taken care of later , ” he said , adding , “ later never comes.
” Others questioned the degree to which Newsom was able to act alone — despite the emergency declaration .
The vice Chair , Assemblyman Jay Obernotle , a Republican who represents the 33rd District in the southeast part of the state , raised concerns about whether Newsom ’ s actions went beyond the limits of his office .
“ My question was not whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this was wise , ” Obernotle asked .
“ My question was whether the governor had the statutory authority to spend on social safety net programs.
” Members of Newsom ’ s administration , including officials from the Departments of Emergency Services , and Health and Human Services , Finance , who attended the hearing via video conferencing , attempted to respond to the committee ’ s demand for details , and answer the wide range of questions Among the topics on lawmakers minds were : the financial status of the unemployment insurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed to transition back toward normalcy , how and when federal funding would be distributed , and other issues they will need to be briefed on before tackling a budget revise due in mid-May .
But there were some questions they couldn ’ t yet answer .
Vivek Viswanathan , the chief deputy director for Budget at the Department of Finance , said they were working on the May revision , but that “ there is considerable uncertainty.
” He added that he and his department would have more to say about spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but that federal support would be key .
Already , $ 15 billion in federal funds is coming to California , split between state and local governments .
“ It is not enough , ” he added , saying the funding “ will not eliminate some of the painful choices California will have to make.
” In one somewhat tense exchange between Ting and Marko Mijic , the acting director at the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development in the Department of Health and Human Services , Ting repeatedly asked exactly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conduct before lifting some social distancing orders .
Mijic — who responded by emphasizing that there is an issue with the supply chain , and that there aren ’ t enough swabs to collect specimens — was not able to provide an answer .
Promising that the agency would have the information this week , he said that the state is on track to achieve Newsom ’ s goal of having enough capacity to conduct 25,000 tests per day by May 1 .
To date , 290,500 tests have been conducted .
Administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 1 billion contract the state entered into to get face masks from a Chinese company with a history of selling defective products , saying that revealing details of the deal could negatively impact the supply chain .
At the end of the hearing , Ting concluded that — especially with so many questions remaining — there will need to be more discussions between the legislature and the governor ’ s administration .
Emphasizing that lawmakers worked hard in recent years to shore up state reserves , “ we want to have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being spent , ” he said .
The committee will meet again next Monday to focus on recovery .
“ We have full faith in the governor , ” Ting added , “ but we feel like we have a very important role to play especially in the appropriation of resources.
” Gabrielle Canon is a California Reporter for the USA Today Network .
You can reach her at gcanon @ gannett.com or on Twitter @ GabrielleCanon .

California legislators demand more answers about spending on COVID-19 response
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: What to expect in a recession, depression The coronavirus (COVID-19) is impacting the global economy and raising fears of a recession. What causes a recession and what are the signs? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
In a hearing that stretched more than four hours Monday, California’s Assembly Budget Committee held its first legislative oversight hearing on how Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to lead the state through the coronavirus pandemic — and how an estimated $7 billion in emergency expenses are being spent.
With the deadline to rework the state’s budget just weeks away, the 11 legislators spread across the committee room expressed frustration over how little information they have received so far.
"The emergency powers that were granted were with an understanding that this would be for a certain amount of discreet time,” said Assemblyman Phil Ting, a Democrat from San Francisco who chairs the Budget Committee. “It wasn't the sense that there was a blank check or we would just be notified after expenditures were already committed to.”
Gabriel Petek, an analyst with the State’s independent Legislative Analyst's Office, recommended that the state must soon shift from reactive to proactive in order to address the expected financial consequences from the crisis. Saying that “we have moved on from the initial phase of this episode,” he said the legislature would need more detailed information going forward, specifically on Newsom’s plans for the coming months, the costs of those plans, and how the governor would propose to pay for them. That information, Petek said, has not yet been made available to lawmakers.
While most of the legislators took time to champion the governor’s quick actions to issue statewide social distancing orders and success at "flattening the curve" of California’s confirmed cases of the deadly COVID-19, they said they had largely been left out of key-decisions — and that often, they learned about statewide orders from the media or in real-time during Newsom’s daily updates.
“The need to get accurate information to the constituents about what was happening was tough,” Assemblyman William Brough, Dana Point Republican, said. Assemblyman Jim Wood, a Democrat from Santa Rosa, opened his comments by commending the governor’s work, but insisted it had been hampered by resistance to include lawmakers in key discussions and called it a “missed opportunity.”
Newsom: Calif. now in 'pandemic induced recession' Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday that California is now "in a pandemic-induced recession," amid the coronavirus outbreak. In an attempt to ease the economic fallout, Newsom said he has selected advisors to aid in the economic recovery effort. (April 17) AP
More: California could be the state hit hardest financially by coronavirus. Is it ready?
Assemblyman Adam Gray, D-Merced, said he “applauded the administration for the multi-faceted approach to slow the spread,” and added that a lot has been done right. “Having said that,” he added, “it’s time to see what we can do better."
He also expressed concerns about how rural communities might be left out of recovery plans, with much of the focus on urban centers where bigger outbreaks occurred.
“We are often told in rural California that we are going to be taken care of later,” he said, adding, “later never comes.” Others questioned the degree to which Newsom was able to act alone — despite the emergency declaration.
The vice Chair, Assemblyman Jay Obernotle, a Republican who represents the 33rd District in the southeast part of the state, raised concerns about whether Newsom’s actions went beyond the limits of his office.
“My question was not whether this was needed, whether or not this was wise,” Obernotle asked. “My question was whether the governor had the statutory authority to spend on social safety net programs.”
State officials promise details in the coming weeks
Members of Newsom’s administration, including officials from the Departments of Emergency Services, and Health and Human Services, Finance, who attended the hearing via video conferencing, attempted to respond to the committee’s demand for details, and answer the wide range of questions
Among the topics on lawmakers minds were: the financial status of the unemployment insurance fund, the scale of COVID-19 testing needed to transition back toward normalcy, how and when federal funding would be distributed, and other issues they will need to be briefed on before tackling a budget revise due in mid-May.
But there were some questions they couldn’t yet answer.
Vivek Viswanathan, the chief deputy director for Budget at the Department of Finance, said they were working on the May revision, but that “there is considerable uncertainty.” He added that he and his department would have more to say about spending in the weeks and months to come, but that federal support would be key. Already, $15 billion in federal funds is coming to California, split between state and local governments.
“It is not enough,” he added, saying the funding “will not eliminate some of the painful choices California will have to make.”
In one somewhat tense exchange between Ting and Marko Mijic, the acting director at the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development in the Department of Health and Human Services, Ting repeatedly asked exactly how many tests California would need to conduct before lifting some social distancing orders. Mijic — who responded by emphasizing that there is an issue with the supply chain, and that there aren’t enough swabs to collect specimens — was not able to provide an answer. Promising that the agency would have the information this week, he said that the state is on track to achieve Newsom’s goal of having enough capacity to conduct 25,000 tests per day by May 1. To date, 290,500 tests have been conducted.
Administration officials also declined to address a controversial $1 billion contract the state entered into to get face masks from a Chinese company with a history of selling defective products, saying that revealing details of the deal could negatively impact the supply chain.
At the end of the hearing, Ting concluded that — especially with so many questions remaining — there will need to be more discussions between the legislature and the governor’s administration. Emphasizing that lawmakers worked hard in recent years to shore up state reserves, “we want to have a say in how this reserve money is being spent,” he said.
The committee will meet again next Monday to focus on recovery.
“We have full faith in the governor,” Ting added, “but we feel like we have a very important role to play especially in the appropriation of resources.”
Gabrielle Canon is a California Reporter for the USA Today Network. You can reach her at gcanon@gannett.com or on Twitter @GabrielleCanon.


usatoday--2020-04-20--President Trump has confrontation with reporter at briefing: 'Keep your voice down'

President Trump tells reporter to `` keep your voice down , '' at a coronavirus task force briefing .

Trump clashes with reporter at briefing
President Trump tells reporter to "keep your voice down," at a coronavirus task force briefing.
USA TODAY, Wochit