thefiscaltimes--2020-11-10--Senate GOP Unveils Spending Bills to Avoid December Shutdown

Senate Republicans released their long-delayed annual spending bills on Tuesday , setting the stage for what may be complex negotiations with Democrats ahead of a December 11 deadline , when current stopgap government funding is set to expire .
The 12 appropriations bills “ reflect significant differences between Senate Republicans and House Democrats on spending levels as well as policy riders that address everything from family planning grants to military installations named for Confederate officers and border wall funding , ” Roll Call ’ s Jennifer Shutt reports : “ Senate Republicans made some strategic reductions from bills introduced by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ departments of Veterans Affairs , Interior , EPA , Transportation and Housing and Urban Development .
“ Instead , they 'd put that money towards higher levels for Defense , Homeland Security , Energy and the Army Corps of Engineers than the House would prefer .
“ Senate Republicans appear to give the biggest domestic spending bill , for the departments of Labor , Health and Human Services and Education , more money than the House version .
But that 's before the addition of $ 24.4 billion in pandemic-related emergency spending House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly $ 250 billion overall pot of add-ons sprinkled throughout the bills Republicans say violate last year 's budget deal.
” The background : An earlier deal between the Trump administration and Congress set the discretionary budget for fiscal year 2021 at $ 1.298 trillion , with $ 671.5 billion for defense and $ 626.5 billion other programs .
House Democrats passed 10 of the required 12 annual spending bills along partisan lines earlier this year .
Democratic objections : Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont , the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new Republican bills , including the lack of emergency pandemic-relief funding .
“ Many of the bills were the result of bipartisan work , and I appreciate those areas where we were able to come to agreement , ” he said in a statement .
“ However , there are significant issues that we will want to address in negotiations with the House .
The first is the need to address the coronavirus crisis in this country.
” Leahy also objected to what he called “ nearly $ 2 billion in wasteful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wall ; proposed spending levels for health , education , child care and environmental protections ; language limiting funding for family planning ; and funding levels for immigration detention.
< Uncertainty abounds : The ongoing uncertainty over which party will control the Senate , with two Georgia seats slated for runoff elections on January 5 , could color the negotiations , as could the stalemate over a coronavirus relief package .
Democrats , guided by President-elect Biden , may also prefer not to pass full-year funding bills , instead giving the new administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending priorities .
But the likelihood that Republicans will control the Senate after those runoffs may give Democrats more incentive to settle the spending bills and clear the decks for Biden .
Trump again a wild card : The president , always unpredictable , could further complicate the talks , through both his efforts to challenge the election results and potential objections to the process or details of the legislation .
“ Whether President Donald Trump ’ s lame-duck administration will engage in those negotiations , or whether he ’ ll want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains unknown , ” Roll Call ’ s Shutt writes .
The White House has reportedly instructed officials not to cooperate with the Biden transition team and Trump ’ s budget office has told federal agencies to continue preparing the administration ’ s budget proposal for fiscal year 2022 , which begins next October .
The president ’ s budget would typically be released in February , weeks after Trump is scheduled to leave office .
Asked by The Washington Post if the fiscal 2022 budget process was proceeding as planned , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , “ Of course .
”

Senate Republicans released their long-delayed annual spending bills on Tuesday, setting the stage for what may be complex negotiations with Democrats ahead of a December 11 deadline, when current stopgap government funding is set to expire.
The 12 appropriations bills “reflect significant differences between Senate Republicans and House Democrats on spending levels as well as policy riders that address everything from family planning grants to military installations named for Confederate officers and border wall funding,” Roll Call’s Jennifer Shutt reports:
“Senate Republicans made some strategic reductions from bills introduced by their House Democratic counterparts to fund the departments of Veterans Affairs, Interior, EPA, Transportation and Housing and Urban Development.
“Instead, they'd put that money towards higher levels for Defense, Homeland Security, Energy and the Army Corps of Engineers than the House would prefer.
“Senate Republicans appear to give the biggest domestic spending bill, for the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, more money than the House version. But that's before the addition of $24.4 billion in pandemic-related emergency spending House Democrats tacked on, part of a nearly $250 billion overall pot of add-ons sprinkled throughout the bills Republicans say violate last year's budget deal.”
The background: An earlier deal between the Trump administration and Congress set the discretionary budget for fiscal year 2021 at $1.298 trillion, with $671.5 billion for defense and $626.5 billion other programs. House Democrats passed 10 of the required 12 annual spending bills along partisan lines earlier this year.
Democratic objections: Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, quickly raised some objections to the new Republican bills, including the lack of emergency pandemic-relief funding.
“Many of the bills were the result of bipartisan work, and I appreciate those areas where we were able to come to agreement,” he said in a statement. “However, there are significant issues that we will want to address in negotiations with the House. The first is the need to address the coronavirus crisis in this country.”
Leahy also objected to what he called “nearly $2 billion in wasteful spending” on Trump’s border wall; proposed spending levels for health, education, child care and environmental protections; language limiting funding for family planning; and funding levels for immigration detention.<
Uncertainty abounds: The ongoing uncertainty over which party will control the Senate, with two Georgia seats slated for runoff elections on January 5, could color the negotiations, as could the stalemate over a coronavirus relief package. Democrats, guided by President-elect Biden, may also prefer not to pass full-year funding bills, instead giving the new administration a chance to put its stamp on spending priorities. But the likelihood that Republicans will control the Senate after those runoffs may give Democrats more incentive to settle the spending bills and clear the decks for Biden.
Trump again a wild card: The president, always unpredictable, could further complicate the talks, through both his efforts to challenge the election results and potential objections to the process or details of the legislation. “Whether President Donald Trump’s lame-duck administration will engage in those negotiations, or whether he’ll want to sign any spending bills, period, remains unknown,” Roll Call’s Shutt writes.
The White House has reportedly instructed officials not to cooperate with the Biden transition team and Trump’s budget office has told federal agencies to continue preparing the administration’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2022, which begins next October. The president’s budget would typically be released in February, weeks after Trump is scheduled to leave office. Asked by The Washington Post if the fiscal 2022 budget process was proceeding as planned, a spokesperson for the White House budget office said, “Of course.”


thefiscaltimes--2020-11-09--On Health Care, Biden May Focus on Reversing Trump’s Changes

President-elect Joe Biden has major plans to enhance health care in the U.S. , but his options may be limited if , as expected , Republicans maintain their hold on the Senate in the next Congress .
Given the likelihood of what amounts to a GOP veto over major changes in policy , the Biden administration is expected to focus more on undoing much of what Donald Trump has done over the last four years , says Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post , while leaving more substantial changes such as the creation of a public option for health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and when Democrats gain control of both houses of Congress .
Larry Levitt of the Kaiser Family Foundation said Monday that Biden “ can and probably will reverse much of what President Trump has done in health care administratively.
” In addition to changing the federal approach to the coronavirus pandemic so that it includes “ facts , science , and empathy , ” Levitt said that Biden could make meaningful changes to health care policy without Congressional approval in multiple areas , including : • eliminating restrictions on the use of health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authority to undo much of what President Trump has done , ” Levitt added , “ I ’ d look for President-Elect Biden to use executive powers creatively to expand coverage , increase consumer protections , and make health care more affordable.
” Backing up the ACA : Winfield Cunningham says Biden is expected to rely on many former Obama administration officials to staff the Department of Health and Human Services and to provide advice to the White House .
This will mark a significant change in the administration of the Affordable Care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the Trump years – a multi-pronged Republican effort that will reach the Supreme Court Tuesday , when the justices will hear arguments about the constitutional validity of the ACA in a suit backed by the White House .
The high court isn ’ t expected to render a verdict in the case until next spring , but the Biden administration could take steps to defend the ACA before then .
“ There are a couple of things Congress could do to make it so there 's actually nothing to litigate — so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decide this case , it would just go away , ” Sabrina Corlette of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University , told NPR .
“ I do n't think the litigation is a win for Republicans politically , and so they may just be perfectly happy to work out a deal , ” she added .
If Biden is unable to make a deal and the Supreme Court decides against the ACA , lawmakers would have to scramble next year to address the expected fallout , which could include the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million people and the elimination of protections for patients with pre-existing conditions .

President-elect Joe Biden has major plans to enhance health care in the U.S., but his options may be limited if, as expected, Republicans maintain their hold on the Senate in the next Congress.
Given the likelihood of what amounts to a GOP veto over major changes in policy, the Biden administration is expected to focus more on undoing much of what Donald Trump has done over the last four years, says Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post, while leaving more substantial changes such as the creation of a public option for health insurance to a future date, if and when Democrats gain control of both houses of Congress.
Larry Levitt of the Kaiser Family Foundation said Monday that Biden “can and probably will reverse much of what President Trump has done in health care administratively.” In addition to changing the federal approach to the coronavirus pandemic so that it includes “facts, science, and empathy,” Levitt said that Biden could make meaningful changes to health care policy without Congressional approval in multiple areas, including:
restoring funds for Obamacare outreach
requiring short-term health care plans to cover pre-existing conditions
rolling back work requirements in Medicaid
eliminating restrictions on the use of health care for immigrants
reversing Trump rules on abortion and birth control.
“Beyond using administrative authority to undo much of what President Trump has done,” Levitt added, “I’d look for President-Elect Biden to use executive powers creatively to expand coverage, increase consumer protections, and make health care more affordable.”
Backing up the ACA: Winfield Cunningham says Biden is expected to rely on many former Obama administration officials to staff the Department of Health and Human Services and to provide advice to
the White House. This will mark a significant change in the administration of the Affordable Care Act, which was targeted for elimination during the Trump years – a multi-pronged Republican effort that will reach the Supreme Court Tuesday, when the justices will hear arguments about the constitutional validity of the ACA in a suit backed by the White House.
The high court isn’t expected to render a verdict in the case until next spring, but the Biden administration could take steps to defend the ACA before then. “There are a couple of things Congress could do to make it so there's actually nothing to litigate — so the Supreme Court wouldn't have to decide this case, it would just go away,” Sabrina Corlette of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University, told NPR. “I don't think the litigation is a win for Republicans politically, and so they may just be perfectly happy to work out a deal,” she added.
If Biden is unable to make a deal and the Supreme Court decides against the ACA, lawmakers would have to scramble next year to address the expected fallout, which could include the loss of health insurance for roughly 20 million people and the elimination of protections for patients with pre-existing conditions.


thefiscaltimes--2020-11-06--One Big Election Winner: The Health Care Industry

Whatever the result of the presidential election , it looks like divided government is a near certainty , and that ’ s good news for what Bloomberg ’ s Max Nisen calls “ the health care industrial complex.
” “ Big pharma and health insurers are the real winners of the 2020 election , ” Nisen says in an opinion piece Thursday .
“ Anyone who has to interact with and pay for care in America has less to celebrate.
” Nisen notes that the stocks of health insurers and pharmaceutical firms have been soaring since Election Day as traders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the biggest threats to health care profitability – namely , coordinated political action to reduce costs throughout the health care system – is looking far less likely than it did before the election , when many prognosticators were predicting a “ blue wave ” that would give Democrats full control in Washington .
Now , facing a Senate that is expected to be led by Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) , it ’ s unlikely that a potential Biden administration would be able to sign any major health care changes into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reforms .
Trump ’ s legacy : The Trump years have been very good for the health care industry , Nisen says : “ There was limited change under Trump .
He failed to repeal the Affordable Care Act , and executive actions aimed at reining in drug prices and increasing health-cost transparency have had little effect if they 've been implemented at all .
His legacy is mostly a modest jump in the number of Americans without health coverage resulting from efforts to undermine the ACA and Medicaid , a mismanaged pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health care profits growing : “ The past few years under President Donald Trump have shown how much money the industry can make from America 's health-care status quo , ” Nisen writes .
“ Annual gross profit at the 25 most valuable health companies jumped by about $ 80 billion over the first three years of his term to more than $ 650 billion .
Its profit now seems likely to expand even further for the next few years .
Great for investors , if not so much for the broader population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Threat neutralized : Joe Biden ’ s proposals include a public option for health insurance and drug-price negotiating power for Medicare , but those are probably off the table now .
“ There 's only so much Biden could accomplish with executive action , ” Nisen says .
“ Many of his efforts would aim to undo Trump 's damage , which might even benefit health companies .
He would likely take a harder line on health-care antitrust issues , but if that 's the biggest problem , the sector as a whole @ @ @ @ @

Whatever the result of the presidential election, it looks like divided government is a near certainty, and that’s good news for what Bloomberg’s Max Nisen calls “the health care industrial complex.”
“Big pharma and health insurers are the real winners of the 2020 election,” Nisen says in an opinion piece Thursday. “Anyone who has to interact with and pay for care in America has less to celebrate.”
Nisen notes that the stocks of health insurers and pharmaceutical firms have been soaring since Election Day as traders digest the results. Divided government means one of the biggest threats to health care profitability – namely, coordinated political action to reduce costs throughout the health care system – is looking far less likely than it did before the election, when many prognosticators were predicting a “blue wave” that would give Democrats full control in Washington.
Now, facing a Senate that is expected to be led by Mitch McConnell (R-KY), it’s unlikely that a potential Biden administration would be able to sign any major health care changes into law as the upper chamber blocks significant reforms.
Trump’s legacy: The Trump years have been very good for the health care industry, Nisen says: “There was limited change under Trump. He failed to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and executive actions aimed at reining in drug prices and increasing health-cost transparency have had little effect if they've been implemented at all. His legacy is mostly a modest jump in the number of Americans without health coverage resulting from efforts to undermine the ACA and Medicaid, a mismanaged pandemic, and a bunch of lawsuits.”
Health care profits growing: “The past few years under President Donald Trump have shown how much money the industry can make from America's health-care status quo,” Nisen writes. “Annual gross profit at the 25 most valuable health companies jumped by about $80 billion over the first three years of his term to more than $650 billion. Its profit now seems likely to expand even further for the next few years. Great for investors, if not so much for the broader population and health-care system as a whole.”
Threat neutralized: Joe Biden’s proposals include a public option for health insurance and drug-price negotiating power for Medicare, but those are probably off the table now. “There's only so much Biden could accomplish with executive action,” Nisen says. “Many of his efforts would aim to undo Trump's damage, which might even benefit health companies. He would likely take a harder line on health-care antitrust issues, but if that's the biggest problem, the sector as a whole will be delighted.”


thefiscaltimes--2020-11-11--A New Tax on Stay-at-Home Workers?

A New Tax on Stay-at-Home Workers?

A report funded by Deutsche Bank that examines the economic recovery from the pandemic suggests that people working at home should be taxed for the privilege of doing so , in order to pay for aid to workers who can ’ t avoid leaving home to earn money .
Those who can work from home are contributing less to key parts of the economy , the report says , spending less on travel , clothes , dining and other services , inadvertently pushing workers in those sectors into crisis .
At the same time , they are gaining valuable benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduced consumption outside the home .
The analysts estimate that the direct financial benefits received by stay-at-home workers are worth about $ 10 per day , and they argue that a tax of that amount would leave workers no less well off than if they had gone into the office .
They propose a 5 % tax to collect that amount from the average worker , which they say would raise something like $ 48 billion , money that could be used to pay $ 1,500 grants to 29 million low-wage workers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For the first time in history , a big chunk of people have disconnected themselves from the face-to-face world yet are still leading a full economic life , ” said Luke Templeman , a macro strategist at Deutsche Bank .
“ For years we have needed a tax on remote workers – COVID has just made it obvious .
”

A report funded by Deutsche Bank that examines the economic recovery from the pandemic suggests that people working at home should be taxed for the privilege of doing so, in order to pay for aid to workers who can’t avoid leaving home to earn money.
Those who can work from home are contributing less to key parts of the economy, the report says, spending less on travel, clothes, dining and other services, inadvertently pushing workers in those sectors into crisis. At the same time, they are gaining valuable benefits, including less stress from commuting and reduced consumption outside the home.
The analysts estimate that the direct financial benefits received by stay-at-home workers are worth about $10 per day, and they argue that a tax of that amount would leave workers no less well off than if they had gone into the office. They propose a 5% tax to collect that amount from the average worker, which they say would raise something like $48 billion, money that could be used to pay $1,500 grants to 29 million low-wage workers who cannot work from home.
"For the first time in history, a big chunk of people have disconnected themselves from the face-to-face world yet are still leading a full economic life,” said Luke Templeman, a macro strategist at Deutsche Bank. “For years we have needed a tax on remote workers – COVID has just made it obvious.”


thefiscaltimes--2020-11-10--Supreme Court Signals Support for the ACA

The Supreme Court heard arguments in a Republican challenge to the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act Tuesday , and while we won ’ t know the court ’ s ruling until next spring , most observers concluded that a majority of justices appear to favor upholding the 2010 health care law .
“ [ A ] t least five justices , including two members of the court ’ s conservative majority , indicated that they were not inclined to strike down the balance of the law , ” The New York Times said in its review of the proceedings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed by Republican officials in 18 states and backed by the Trump administration claims that the Affordable Care Act violates the Constitution now that the individual mandate — the tax penalty for not purchasing health insurance — was set to $ 0 by Congress as part of the GOP tax package in 2017 .
The lawsuit contends that the mandate was an essential part of the ACA , and now that it has been effectively eliminated , it should be formally eliminated — a move they say would invalidate the entire law , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that backed the ACA by tying the mandate to Congress ’ s taxing powers .
While there are other legal issues involved , the “ severability ” claim is central to the case , though it has been widely criticized by legal experts across the political spectrum .
What the justices said : The proceedings Tuesday were the first time the court has heard a challenge to the ACA with its new 6-3 conservative majority , and there was considerable speculation that the newest justice , Amy Coney Barrett , would tip the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barrett showed few signs of accepting the Republican argument , and instead asked why the court should ignore the will of Congress by overturning the law .
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said that it was clear that lawmakers did not intend to undo the ACA in its entirety when they effectively eliminated the mandate .
“ I think it ’ s hard for you to argue Congress intended the entire act to fall if the mandate was struck down if the same Congress that lowered the tax penalty to zero did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the act , ” he said .
Roberts added that while the challengers were hoping that the court would invalidate the ACA , “ that ’ s not our job.
” Justice Brett Kavanaugh also expressed doubts about the Republican claim .
“ I tend to agree with you this a very straightforward case for severability under our precedents , meaning that we would excise the mandate and leave the rest of the act in place , ” Kavanaugh said .
The court ’ s liberal justices — Stephen Breyer , Elena @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear their skepticism about the suit ’ s claims , questioning multiple components of the case , including issues surrounding standing and precedent .
What ’ s at stake : Republicans have sought to undo the Affordable Care Act since it passed in 2010 , making “ repeal and replace ” a rallying cry for conservatives throughout the Obama and Trump years .
But the law has become deeply interwoven with the American health care system since taking effect in 2014 , and most experts say that removing it would cause chaos .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people could lose their health insurance in one fell swoop , and Americans would lose legal protections for people with pre-existing conditions .
What others are saying : President-elect Joe Biden blasted the Republican effort to overturn the ACA , calling it “ simply cruel and needlessly divisive , ” especially in the middle of a pandemic .
“ Let 's be absolutely clear about what 's at stake : The consequences of the Trump administration 's argument are not academic or an abstraction .
For many Americans , they are a matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ literal sense , ” Biden said .
Larry Levitt of the Kaiser Family Foundation said that one likely outcome of the case is that the Supreme Court could throw out the now-toothless mandate but leave the rest of the ACA standing .
“ That remains possible , and would avoid disrupting insurance for millions of people , ” Levitt said Tuesday .
“ If the Supreme Court does allow the ACA to stand , except for the individual mandate , it seems like the law is really now here for good with President-Elect @ @ @ @ @ @

The Supreme Court heard arguments in a Republican challenge to the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act Tuesday, and while we won’t know the court’s ruling until next spring, most observers concluded that a majority of justices appear to favor upholding the 2010 health care law.
“[A]t least five justices, including two members of the court’s conservative majority, indicated that they were not inclined to strike down the balance of the law,” The New York Times said in its review of the proceedings.
The legal claim: A lawsuit filed by Republican officials in 18 states and backed by the Trump administration claims that the Affordable Care Act violates the Constitution now that the individual mandate — the tax penalty for not purchasing health insurance — was set to $0 by Congress as part of the GOP tax package in 2017.
The lawsuit contends that the mandate was an essential part of the ACA, and now that it has been effectively eliminated, it should be formally eliminated — a move they say would invalidate the entire law, based on an earlier Supreme Court ruling that backed the ACA by tying the mandate to Congress’s taxing powers. While there are other legal issues involved, the “severability” claim is central to the case, though it has been widely criticized by legal experts across the political spectrum.
What the justices said: The proceedings Tuesday were the first time the court has heard a challenge to the ACA with its new 6-3 conservative majority, and there was considerable speculation that the newest justice, Amy Coney Barrett, would tip the scales against the law. But Coney Barrett showed few signs of accepting the Republican argument, and instead asked why the court should ignore the will of Congress by overturning the law.
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said that it was clear that lawmakers did not intend to undo the ACA in its entirety when they effectively eliminated the mandate. “I think it’s hard for you to argue Congress intended the entire act to fall if the mandate was struck down if the same Congress that lowered the tax penalty to zero did not even try to repeal the rest of the act,” he said. Roberts added that while the challengers were hoping that the court would invalidate the ACA, “that’s not our job.”
Justice Brett Kavanaugh also expressed doubts about the Republican claim. “I tend to agree with you this a very straightforward case for severability under our precedents, meaning that we would excise the mandate and leave the rest of the act in place,” Kavanaugh said.
The court’s liberal justices — Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor — also made clear their skepticism about the suit’s claims, questioning multiple components of the case, including issues surrounding standing and precedent.
What’s at stake: Republicans have sought to undo the Affordable Care Act since it passed in 2010, making “repeal and replace” a rallying cry for conservatives throughout the Obama and Trump years. But the law has become deeply interwoven with the American health care system since taking effect in 2014, and most experts say that removing it would cause chaos. Among other things, roughly 20 million people could lose their health insurance in one fell swoop, and Americans would lose legal protections for people with pre-existing conditions.
What others are saying: President-elect Joe Biden blasted the Republican effort to overturn the ACA, calling it “simply cruel and needlessly divisive,” especially in the middle of a pandemic. “Let's be absolutely clear about what's at stake: The consequences of the Trump administration's argument are not academic or an abstraction. For many Americans, they are a matter of life and death, in a literal sense,” Biden said.
Larry Levitt of the Kaiser Family Foundation said that one likely outcome of the case is that the Supreme Court could throw out the now-toothless mandate but leave the rest of the ACA standing. “That remains possible, and would avoid disrupting insurance for millions of people,” Levitt said Tuesday. “If the Supreme Court does allow the ACA to stand, except for the individual mandate, it seems like the law is really now here for good with President-Elect Joe Biden taking office.”


thefiscaltimes--2020-11-09--Biden Warns of ‘Dark Winter,’ Urges Americans to Wear Masks as Covid Cases Top 10 Million

President-elect Joe Biden made clear Monday what he sees as Job .
1 : addressing the coronavirus pandemic that just reached a new milestone , topping 10 million confirmed cases .
After a victory speech Saturday in which he urged a polarized nation to come together and renewed his promise to try to be a president for all Americans , Biden began his transition to office on Monday by signaling just how different his approach to the virus would be .
He warned that the United States faces “ a dark winter ” ahead , pleaded with Americans to wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be informed by science and announced a new advisory board of public health experts to help guide his efforts .
Biden lauded drugmaker Pfizer ’ s announcement that its Covid-19 vaccine was more than 90 % effective in a trial , but noted that even if the vaccine is approved , it won ’ t be widely available for months .
Pfizer said Monday that it aims to deliver 100 million doses of the vaccine , enough for 50 million people , by March .
Biden , who has mapped out a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , warned Monday that hundreds of thousands more could die if the public grows complacent before the vaccine arrives .
“ We could save tens of thousands of lives if everyone would just wear a mask for the next few months .
Not Democratic or Republican lives , American lives , ” Biden said .
“ Please , I implore you , wear a mask.
” A new advisory board : In a 5 a.m. news release , Biden formally announced that the new Transition COVID-19 Advisory Board will be co-chaired by : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration under Presidents George H.W .
Bush and Bill Clinton ; • Dr. Vivek Murthy , who was Surgeon General under President Obama from 2014 to 2017 ; • Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith , associate dean for health equity research at the Yale School of Medicine .
Others on the 13-member task force include : • Dr. Luciana Borio , who was director for medical and biodefense preparedness on President Trump ’ s National Security Council until 2019 ; • Dr. Rick Bright , the former head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Authority , who filed a whistleblower complaint against the Trump administration ’ s approach to the pandemic ; • Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel , chair of the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania ; • Dr. Atul Gawande , a surgeon at Brigham and Women ’ s Hospital and a professor at Harvard Medical School who is also a noted author and former head of health care venture Haven ; • Dr. Celine Gounder of New York University ’ s Grossman School of Medicine ; • Dr. Eric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barack Obama and professor of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine ; • Dr. Julie Morita , executive vice president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and former Chicago health commissioner ; • Dr. Michael T. Osterholm , director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota ; • Loyce Pace , president and executive director of the Global Health Council , a nonprofit dedicated to global health issues ; • Dr. Robert Rodriguez , a professor of emergency medicine at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenges ahead : We only have one president at a time , so even as Biden looks to take an assertive role in the nation ’ s pandemic response , time and the Trump administration may complicate his plans .
With more than two months until Biden is set to take office , the surge in virus cases is expected to continue , given that Trump is unlikely to enact more aggressive efforts to curb it .
“ The reality is that by the time the president-elect takes office , we ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if you will , of what we ’ re going through right now , ” Dr. Scott Gottlieb , former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration , told CBS ’ s “ Face the Nation ” on Sunday .
“ You know , this is going to play out over the next couple of months .
And I think as the president takes office , we 'll be coming down the other side of the epidemic curve , hopefully .
And the only question is going to be how many people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how many people have been infected.
” And as President Trump contests the election results , cooperation between the current administration and the incoming one remains a question .
The head of the General Services Administration — Emily Murphy , a Trump political appointee — still needs to “ ascertain ” that Biden won the election , and without that ruling , the Biden team won ’ t be able to access nearly $ 10 million in transition funds “ and resources such as briefing books prepared by career federal employees , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called for ramping up the country ’ s testing and contact-tracing efforts , and he is reportedly looking to take a role in the congressional negotiations over a new coronavirus stimulus package .
But securing the funding necessary to enact his initiatives could also be a challenge .
Planning executive orders : As he prepares to take office and strategizes how best to advance his agenda in the face of likely Republican control of the Senate , Biden reportedly is also readying a series of executive orders that he can sign quickly after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ He will rejoin the Paris climate accords , according to those close to his campaign and commitments he has made in recent months , and he will reverse President Trump ’ s withdrawal from the World Health Organization .
He will repeal the ban on almost all travel from some Muslim-majority countries , and he will reinstate the program allowing “ dreamers , ” who were brought to the United States illegally as children , to remain in the country , according to people familiar with his plans.
” The bottom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet , so all Biden can really do for now is lay the groundwork for his plans and use the bully pulpit he now has to encourage a new approach to the virus .

President-elect Joe Biden made clear Monday what he sees as Job. 1: addressing the coronavirus pandemic that just reached a new milestone, topping 10 million confirmed cases.
After a victory speech Saturday in which he urged a polarized nation to come together and renewed his promise to try to be a president for all Americans, Biden began his transition to office on Monday by signaling just how different his approach to the virus would be. He warned that the United States faces “a dark winter” ahead, pleaded with Americans to wear face masks, emphasized that his response would be informed by science and announced a new advisory board of public health experts to help guide his efforts.
Biden lauded drugmaker Pfizer’s announcement that its Covid-19 vaccine was more than 90% effective in a trial, but noted that even if the vaccine is approved, it won’t be widely available for months. Pfizer said Monday that it aims to deliver 100 million doses of the vaccine, enough for 50 million people, by March. Biden, who has mapped out a coordinated national strategy to combat the virus, warned Monday that hundreds of thousands more could die if the public grows complacent before the vaccine arrives.
“We could save tens of thousands of lives if everyone would just wear a mask for the next few months. Not Democratic or Republican lives, American lives,” Biden said. “Please, I implore you, wear a mask.”
A new advisory board: In a 5 a.m. news release, Biden formally announced that the new Transition COVID-19 Advisory Board will be co-chaired by:
Dr. David Kessler, who served as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton;
Dr. Vivek Murthy, who was Surgeon General under President Obama from 2014 to 2017;
Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, associate dean for health equity research at the Yale School of Medicine.
Others on the 13-member task force include:
Dr. Luciana Borio, who was director for medical and biodefense preparedness on President Trump’s National Security Council until 2019;
Dr. Rick Bright, the former head of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, who filed a whistleblower complaint against the Trump administration’s approach to the pandemic;
Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, chair of the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania;
Dr. Atul Gawande, a surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a professor at Harvard Medical School who is also a noted author and former head of health care venture Haven;
Dr. Celine Gounder of New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine;
Dr. Eric Goosby, global AIDS coordinator under President Barack Obama and professor of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine;
Dr. Julie Morita, executive vice president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and former Chicago health commissioner;
Dr. Michael T. Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota;
Loyce Pace, president and executive director of the Global Health Council, a nonprofit dedicated to global health issues;
Dr. Robert Rodriguez, a professor of emergency medicine at the UCSF School of Medicine.
Multiple challenges ahead: We only have one president at a time, so even as Biden looks to take an assertive role in the nation’s pandemic response, time and the Trump administration may complicate his plans. With more than two months until Biden is set to take office, the surge in virus cases is expected to continue, given that Trump is unlikely to enact more aggressive efforts to curb it.
“The reality is that by the time the president-elect takes office, we’ll probably be at the sort of apex, if you will, of what we’re going through right now,” Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, told CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday. “You know, this is going to play out over the next couple of months. And I think as the president takes office, we'll be coming down the other side of the epidemic curve, hopefully. And the only question is going to be how many people have died in the course of this and how many people have been infected.”
And as President Trump contests the election results, cooperation between the current administration and the incoming one remains a question. The head of the General Services Administration — Emily Murphy, a Trump political appointee — still needs to “ascertain” that Biden won the election, and without that ruling, the Biden team won’t be able to access nearly $10 million in transition funds “and resources such as briefing books prepared by career federal employees,” Government Executive reports.
Biden has called for ramping up the country’s testing and contact-tracing efforts, and he is reportedly looking to take a role in the congressional negotiations over a new coronavirus stimulus package. But securing the funding necessary to enact his initiatives could also be a challenge.
Planning executive orders: As he prepares to take office and strategizes how best to advance his agenda in the face of likely Republican control of the Senate, Biden reportedly is also readying a series of executive orders that he can sign quickly after taking office. From The Washington Post:
“He will rejoin the Paris climate accords, according to those close to his campaign and commitments he has made in recent months, and he will reverse President Trump’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization. He will repeal the ban on almost all travel from some Muslim-majority countries, and he will reinstate the program allowing “dreamers,” who were brought to the United States illegally as children, to remain in the country, according to people familiar with his plans.”
The bottom line: He’s not president yet, so all Biden can really do for now is lay the groundwork for his plans and use the bully pulpit he now has to encourage a new approach to the virus.


thefiscaltimes--2020-11-13--US Kicks Off New Fiscal Year With $284 Billion Deficit

The federal budget deficit was about twice as large in October as it was in the same month a year @ @ @ @ @ Department announced Thursday .
The deficit totaled $ 284.1 billion in the first month of @ @ @ @ @ to $ 134.5 billion in October the year before .
Revenue was 3.2 % lower @ @ @ @ @ and spending was 37.3 % higher .
“ The figures extend a rapid deterioration in @ @ @ @ @ position this year after lawmakers scrambled to shore up an economy that ground to a @ @ @ @ @ because of the health crisis , ” Bloomberg ’ s Vince Golle wrote .
“ @ @ @ @ @ ended last month , the U.S. amassed a record $ 3.1 trillion budget shortfall .
@

The federal budget deficit was about twice as large in October as it was in the same month a year ago, the U.S. Treasury Department announced Thursday.
The deficit totaled $284.1 billion in the first month of fiscal year 2021, compared to $134.5 billion in October the year before. Revenue was 3.2% lower on a year-over-year basis, and spending was 37.3% higher.
“The figures extend a rapid deterioration in the government’s fiscal position this year after lawmakers scrambled to shore up an economy that ground to a halt and depressed tax revenue because of the health crisis,” Bloomberg’s Vince Golle wrote. “In fiscal 2020, which ended last month, the U.S. amassed a record $3.1 trillion budget shortfall.”


thefiscaltimes--2020-11-12--With Trump on Sidelines, It's Now Pelosi vs. McConnell on Coronavirus Stimulus

The players in the coronavirus stimulus negotiations may be changing , but the stalemate remains the same .
The Trump administration is reportedly stepping back from the talks , leaving it to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) to try to hammer out a compromise with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had been leading negotiations with Pelosi on a package approaching $ 2 trillion , but those talks collapsed before the election .
“ There hasn ’ t been any discussion yet between McConnell and Pelosi , but McConnell is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do the dealing , ” Sen. Chuck Grassley ( R-IA ) told reporters on Thursday morning .
“ I think he ’ s intending to take it over and try to get something going.
” The gap between the parties remains as cavernous as ever .
Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) spoke about the negotiations with President-elect Joe Biden Thursday .
“ They discussed the urgent need for the Congress to come together in the lame duck session on a bipartisan basis to pass a bill that provides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief for working families and small businesses , support for state and local governments trying to keep frontline workers on the payroll , expanded unemployment insurance , and affordable health care for millions of families , ” according to a joint statement .
While the statement didn ’ t address the costs of a relief bill , Pelosi and Schumer told reporters Thursday that , given the surge in Covid-19 cases across the country , they will continue to insist on package totaling more than $ 2 trillion , far larger than what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insisted that voters had given them and Biden a mandate to pursue a more comprehensive deal .
“ This election was maybe more a referendum on who can handle Covid well than anything else , ” Schumer said .
“ The Donald Trump approach was repudiated and the Joe Biden approach was embraced .
That is why we think there is a better chance of getting a deal in the lame duck.
” McConnell quickly burst that bubble , again rejecting the idea of a multitrillion-dollar package .
`` My view is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further underscores that we need to do something about the amount that we put on the floor in September and October — highly targeted at what the residual problems are , '' he said , referring to a roughly $ 500 billion package Senate Republicans had proposed .
“ I gather [ Pelosi and Schumer ] are looking at something dramatically larger .
That ’ s not a place I think we ’ re willing to go .
But I do think there needs to be another package .
Hopefully we can get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for four or five months and get serious about doing something that 's appropriate.
” Schumer , meanwhile , called McConnell ’ s proposal for a narrower bill a “ non-starter ” and Pelosi said Republicans were being cold-hearted about the crisis .
“ It ’ s like the house is burning down and they just refuse to throw water on it , ” she said .
What ’ s next : While talks haven ’ t started again , Pelosi reportedly has spoken to Senate Appropriations Chair Richard Shelby ( R-AL ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill needed by December 11 .
McConnell said this week that he plans to discuss the funding bill with Pelosi .
The speaker faces some pressure to get something done from centrists in her party , and some Democrats reportedly worry that waiting to pass another relief bill could hamstring the incoming Biden administration .
But with Republicans hopeful that they will maintain control of the Senate and some Democrats hopeful that they can get a better deal once Biden takes office , neither side appears to have much incentive to reach an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress .
The bottom line : “ Prospects for a new stimulus bill this year just about hit rock bottom on Thursday , ” Politico ’ s Burgess Everett and Sarah Ferris write .
For what it ’ s worth , analysts at Goldman Sachs continue to expect that Congress will approve another stimulus package of roughly $ 1 trillion , but say that ’ s more likely to happen early next year .
They say it ’ s increasingly likely that Congress will add some targeted stimulus measures to the spending bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to avoid a government shutdown , pushing additional action on coronavirus relief into 2021 — and making the size of that action dependent on the course of the pandemic and vaccine development .

The players in the coronavirus stimulus negotiations may be changing, but the stalemate remains the same.
The Trump administration is reportedly stepping back from the talks, leaving it to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to try to hammer out a compromise with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had been leading negotiations with Pelosi on a package approaching $2 trillion, but those talks collapsed before the election.
“There hasn’t been any discussion yet between McConnell and Pelosi, but McConnell is not going to rely on Mnuchin anymore to do the dealing,” Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) told reporters on Thursday morning. “I think he’s intending to take it over and try to get something going.”
The gap between the parties remains as cavernous as ever.
Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) spoke about the negotiations with President-elect Joe Biden Thursday. “They discussed the urgent need for the Congress to come together in the lame duck session on a bipartisan basis to pass a bill that provides resources to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, relief for working families and small businesses, support for state and local governments trying to keep frontline workers on the payroll, expanded unemployment insurance, and affordable health care for millions of families,” according to a joint statement.
While the statement didn’t address the costs of a relief bill, Pelosi and Schumer told reporters Thursday that, given the surge in Covid-19 cases across the country, they will continue to insist on package totaling more than $2 trillion, far larger than what Republicans have suggested. The Democratic leaders insisted that voters had given them and Biden a mandate to pursue a more comprehensive deal.
“This election was maybe more a referendum on who can handle Covid well than anything else,” Schumer said. “The Donald Trump approach was repudiated and the Joe Biden approach was embraced. That is why we think there is a better chance of getting a deal in the lame duck.”
McConnell quickly burst that bubble, again rejecting the idea of a multitrillion-dollar package. "My view is the level at which the economy is improving further underscores that we need to do something about the amount that we put on the floor in September and October — highly targeted at what the residual problems are," he said, referring to a roughly $500 billion package Senate Republicans had proposed. “I gather [Pelosi and Schumer] are looking at something dramatically larger. That’s not a place I think we’re willing to go. But I do think there needs to be another package. Hopefully we can get past the impasse we've had now for four or five months and get serious about doing something that's appropriate.”
Schumer, meanwhile, called McConnell’s proposal for a narrower bill a “non-starter” and Pelosi said Republicans were being cold-hearted about the crisis. “It’s like the house is burning down and they just refuse to throw water on it,” she said.
What’s next: While talks haven’t started again, Pelosi reportedly has spoken to Senate Appropriations Chair Richard Shelby (R-AL) about a stimulus deal and government funding bill needed by December 11. McConnell said this week that he plans to discuss the funding bill with Pelosi.
The speaker faces some pressure to get something done from centrists in her party, and some Democrats reportedly worry that waiting to pass another relief bill could hamstring the incoming Biden administration. But with Republicans hopeful that they will maintain control of the Senate and some Democrats hopeful that they can get a better deal once Biden takes office, neither side appears to have much incentive to reach an agreement during the upcoming lame-duck session of Congress.
The bottom line: “Prospects for a new stimulus bill this year just about hit rock bottom on Thursday,” Politico’s Burgess Everett and Sarah Ferris write. For what it’s worth, analysts at Goldman Sachs continue to expect that Congress will approve another stimulus package of roughly $1 trillion, but say that’s more likely to happen early next year. They say it’s increasingly likely that Congress will add some targeted stimulus measures to the spending bill it will need to pass next month to avoid a government shutdown, pushing additional action on coronavirus relief into 2021 — and making the size of that action dependent on the course of the pandemic and vaccine development.


thefiscaltimes--2020-11-13--Trump Touts Covid Response as Cases Surge to New Highs

President Donald Trump on Friday broke a week-long public silence , appearing in the White House Rose Garden to tout his administration ’ s pandemic response even as the coronavirus rages across the country , with a record 153,000 new cases reported on Thursday , the seventh new high in nine days .
Trump again falsely claimed that the surge in virus cases is the result of increased testing and he highlighted the progress of Operation Warp Speed , the administration ’ s vaccine development program , and the strength of the economy .
“ The past nine months , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mobilization in U.S. history , pioneering , developing and manufacturing therapies and vaccines in record time , ” he said , adding that millions of doses of vaccine “ will soon be going out the door ” and that a vaccine could be widely available as early as April .
Trump took credit for Pfizer ’ s announcement this week that its vaccine candidate was more than 90 % effective , claiming that the pharmaceutical giant had been part of Operation Warp Speed , despite its claims otherwise , because his administration in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion deal to buy 100 million doses of a vaccine developed by the company .
Trump did not concede his election loss , but he came close to acknowledging that he won ’ t be president much longer while saying that his administration would not enter another lockdown : “ This administration will not be going to a lockdown .
Hopefully , the , uh — whatever happens in the future , who knows which administration it will be , I guess time will tell , but I can tell you this administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump took no questions from reporters .
‘ Publicly disengaged ’ : Trump ’ s speech followed an unusual days-long stretch during which the president remained largely out of sight and reportedly showed “ little evidence of -- or interest in -- governing in the wake of the election , ” as ABC News put it .
Trump had made an appearance at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday to honor veterans , but he hadn ’ t spoken publicly or taken questions since last Thursday , when he told reporters that the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been active on Twitter , but his tweets have been focused on unsubstantiated claims of election fraud .
“ President Donald Trump has publicly disengaged from the battle against the coronavirus at a moment when the disease is tearing across the United States at an alarming pace , ” the Associated Press reported Friday , adding that aides say the president has shown little interest in the pandemic as it worsens — even as numerous officials in the White House and his reelection campaign have tested positive for the virus over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 130 Secret Service officers have reportedly been ordered to isolate or quarantine because they were infected or came in close contact with co-workers who had the virus , with the outbreak believed to be linked in part to Trump rallies over the final weeks of the campaign .
“ The situation now is akin to a fire chief assuring people that the best approach to fires breaking out in an apartment complex is to let the fires burn themselves out while he provides them with fire extinguishers .
And then not providing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his time tweeting about how he won the vote for best fire chief , ” The Washington Post ’ s Philip Bump writes .
“ It ’ s a fierce competition , but this may define Trump ’ s legacy .
He will be remembered as the president who faced a deadly crisis and decided to look away.
” The country can ’ t wait : Trump ’ s silence had drawn criticism from public health experts and others worried that his lack of action and unwillingness to coordinate with President-elect Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to curb the spread of the virus and prepare for eventual distribution of a vaccine .
“ It ’ s a big problem , ” Dr. Abraar Karan , a global health specialist at Brigham and Women ’ s Hospital and Harvard Medical School , told the AP .
“ The transition is not going to happen until January , and we are in a complete crisis right now .
We already know where this is headed .
...
It ’ s not good enough to say we ’ re going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this.
” What Trump could do : Bloomberg ’ s Josh Wingrove and Emma Court provide a number of suggestions from health experts .
“ The president could help by asking Americans directly to wear masks , encouraging Republican governors to do more to slow the spread , publicly backing health officials or even directing his staff to jointly coordinate with President-elect Joe Biden ’ s transition team , to ensure a smooth hand-off , ” they write .
“ Trump has instead been absent .
He ’ s discouraged masks and social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ’ s transition while refusing to concede defeat , compounding the federal inaction.
” The bottom line : The vaccine development timeline truly is encouraging and remarkable , with the White House saying that two vaccines may be authorized for emergency use by the end of the year .
But the pandemic picture stands to grow much worse by then , let alone a time when vaccines are widely available .
“ I fear the next three months ahead could be the worst we ’ ve faced during the pandemic , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Georgetown University ’ s law school , told the Associated Press .
“ America is like a ship at storm , and the captain has decided to go play golf .
”

President Donald Trump on Friday broke a week-long public silence, appearing in the White House Rose Garden to tout his administration’s pandemic response even as the coronavirus rages across the country, with a record 153,000 new cases reported on Thursday, the seventh new high in nine days.
Trump again falsely claimed that the surge in virus cases is the result of increased testing and he highlighted the progress of Operation Warp Speed, the administration’s vaccine development program, and the strength of the economy.
“The past nine months, my administration has initiated the single greatest mobilization in U.S. history, pioneering, developing and manufacturing therapies and vaccines in record time,” he said, adding that millions of doses of vaccine “will soon be going out the door” and that a vaccine could be widely available as early as April.
Trump took credit for Pfizer’s announcement this week that its vaccine candidate was more than 90% effective, claiming that the pharmaceutical giant had been part of Operation Warp Speed, despite its claims otherwise, because his administration in July had entered into a $1.95 billion deal to buy 100 million doses of a vaccine developed by the company.
Trump did not concede his election loss, but he came close to acknowledging that he won’t be president much longer while saying that his administration would not enter another lockdown: “This administration will not be going to a lockdown. Hopefully, the, uh — whatever happens in the future, who knows which administration it will be, I guess time will tell, but I can tell you this administration will not go to a lockdown.”
Trump took no questions from reporters.
‘Publicly disengaged’: Trump’s speech followed an unusual days-long stretch during which the president remained largely out of sight and reportedly showed “little evidence of -- or interest in -- governing in the wake of the election,” as ABC News put it.
Trump had made an appearance at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday to honor veterans, but he hadn’t spoken publicly or taken questions since last Thursday, when he told reporters that the election was being stolen from him. He has been active on Twitter, but his tweets have been focused on unsubstantiated claims of election fraud.
“President Donald Trump has publicly disengaged from the battle against the coronavirus at a moment when the disease is tearing across the United States at an alarming pace,” the Associated Press reported Friday, adding that aides say the president has shown little interest in the pandemic as it worsens — even as numerous officials in the White House and his reelection campaign have tested positive for the virus over the last couple of weeks.
More than 130 Secret Service officers have reportedly been ordered to isolate or quarantine because they were infected or came in close contact with co-workers who had the virus, with the outbreak believed to be linked in part to Trump rallies over the final weeks of the campaign.
“The situation now is akin to a fire chief assuring people that the best approach to fires breaking out in an apartment complex is to let the fires burn themselves out while he provides them with fire extinguishers. And then not providing the fire extinguishers. And then spending most of his time tweeting about how he won the vote for best fire chief,” The Washington Post’s Philip Bump writes. “It’s a fierce competition, but this may define Trump’s legacy. He will be remembered as the president who faced a deadly crisis and decided to look away.”
The country can’t wait: Trump’s silence had drawn criticism from public health experts and others worried that his lack of action and unwillingness to coordinate with President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team would hinder efforts to curb the spread of the virus and prepare for eventual distribution of a vaccine.
“It’s a big problem,” Dr. Abraar Karan, a global health specialist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, told the AP. “The transition is not going to happen until January, and we are in a complete crisis right now. We already know where this is headed. ... It’s not good enough to say we’re going to wait until the next president to address this.”
What Trump could do: Bloomberg’s Josh Wingrove and Emma Court provide a number of suggestions from health experts. “The president could help by asking Americans directly to wear masks, encouraging Republican governors to do more to slow the spread, publicly backing health officials or even directing his staff to jointly coordinate with President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team, to ensure a smooth hand-off,” they write. “Trump has instead been absent. He’s discouraged masks and social distancing and is blocking the start of Biden’s transition while refusing to concede defeat, compounding the federal inaction.”
The bottom line: The vaccine development timeline truly is encouraging and remarkable, with the White House saying that two vaccines may be authorized for emergency use by the end of the year. But the pandemic picture stands to grow much worse by then, let alone a time when vaccines are widely available. “I fear the next three months ahead could be the worst we’ve faced during the pandemic,” Lawrence Gostin, a public health expert at Georgetown University’s law school, told the Associated Press. “America is like a ship at storm, and the captain has decided to go play golf.”


thefiscaltimes--2020-11-11--Expiring Unemployment Programs Could Leave Millions Out in the Cold

Two federally funded unemployment programs are scheduled to expire at the end of December , threatening about 13 million people with a loss of benefits in the new year .
The loss of income support could leave millions at risk of eviction and hunger , Ben Casselman of The New York Times writes Wednesday , while creating an additional drag on an economy that is already slowing as it recovers from one of the most severe economic shocks on record .
The emergency aid programs were created by Congress through the Cares Act in March .
The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usually left out of the system , including gig workers and the self-employed .
It allows for 46 weeks of benefits , administered through state employment offices , covering February 2 , 2020 , to December 26 , 2020 .
There were 9.3 million people participating in the program as of the middle of October ( though experts say the number is likely inflated to some degree by double counting and other administrative errors ) .
The second program , Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation , provides a 13-week extension of support for workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The program , which will expire at the end of the year , has seen a big jump in participation in recent weeks as people hit the time limit on their state benefits , which typically last for 26 weeks .
The number of long-term unemployed – which is usually defined as out of work for more than 26 weeks – rose to 3.6 million in October , an increase of more than 1 million .
Savings depletion : Many unemployed workers saw an income boost in the spring and early summer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment benefits hit their bank accounts .
The Cares Act created a third program , called Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation , which provided an additional $ 600 per week in jobless benefits for all unemployed workers , but it expired on July 25 .
The Trump administration provided a few weeks of additional payments at about half that level , but that effort has also come to an end .
As a result , unemployed households have started drawing down their savings and now face an income deficit that will become more severe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an end .
“ The safety net still has kind of held up until now , and I think we have been maybe lulled into a sense of complacency , ” Andrew Stettner of the Century Foundation told Casselman .
“ We ’ re just putting people in this really precarious financial position where the damage of unemployment can just hit really hard.
” Relief bill stuck in neutral : Congressional leaders and the White House have been negotiating another coronavirus stimulus bill that would include new funds for unemployment benefits for months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) is still pushing for a relief package worth more than $ 2 trillion , but Senate Republicans have signaled that they won ’ t go anywhere near that high , and instead are focused on a smaller bill totaling closer to $ 500 billion .
The White House , which before the election said it would support a $ 1.9 trillion bill , appears to have left the playing field entirely as the administration turns all of its attention to contesting the election ( “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in work , ” a CNN headline said Wednesday ) .
Speaking about the stimulus bill Tuesday , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) leader said he saw no signs of progress : “ We need to think about , if we ’ re going to come up with a bipartisan package here , about what size is appropriate .
It seems to me that snag that hung us up for months is still there .
I don ’ t think the current situation demands a multitrillion-dollar package .
So I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very similar to what I put on the floor both in October and September .
”

Two federally funded unemployment programs are scheduled to expire at the end of December, threatening about 13 million people with a loss of benefits in the new year. The loss of income support could leave millions at risk of eviction and hunger, Ben Casselman of The New York Times writes Wednesday, while creating an additional drag on an economy that is already slowing as it recovers from one of the most severe economic shocks on record.
The emergency aid programs were created by Congress through the Cares Act in March. The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program provides aid to workers who are usually left out of the system, including gig workers and the self-employed. It allows for 46 weeks of benefits, administered through state employment offices, covering February 2, 2020, to December 26, 2020. There were 9.3 million people participating in the program as of the middle of October (though experts say the number is likely inflated to some degree by double counting and other administrative errors).
The second program, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, provides a 13-week extension of support for workers who have exhausted their state benefits. The program, which will expire at the end of the year, has seen a big jump in participation in recent weeks as people hit the time limit on their state benefits, which typically last for 26 weeks. The number of long-term unemployed – which is usually defined as out of work for more than 26 weeks – rose to 3.6 million in October, an increase of more than 1 million.
Savings depletion: Many unemployed workers saw an income boost in the spring and early summer, as $1,200 relief checks and enhanced unemployment benefits hit their bank accounts. The Cares Act created a third program, called Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, which provided an additional $600 per week in jobless benefits for all unemployed workers, but it expired on July 25. The Trump administration provided a few weeks of additional payments at about half that level, but that effort has also come to an end. As a result, unemployed households have started drawing down their savings and now face an income deficit that will become more severe as the emergency aid programs come to an end.
“The safety net still has kind of held up until now, and I think we have been maybe lulled into a sense of complacency,” Andrew Stettner of the Century Foundation told Casselman. “We’re just putting people in this really precarious financial position where the damage of unemployment can just hit really hard.”
Relief bill stuck in neutral: Congressional leaders and the White House have been negotiating another coronavirus stimulus bill that would include new funds for unemployment benefits for months now, but real progress remains elusive. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is still pushing for a relief package worth more than $2 trillion, but Senate Republicans have signaled that they won’t go anywhere near that high, and instead are focused on a smaller bill totaling closer to $500 billion. The White House, which before the election said it would support a $1.9 trillion bill, appears to have left the playing field entirely as the administration turns all of its attention to contesting the election (“Trump's public schedules show little interest in work,” a CNN headline said Wednesday).
Speaking about the stimulus bill Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) leader said he saw no signs of progress: “We need to think about, if we’re going to come up with a bipartisan package here, about what size is appropriate. It seems to me that snag that hung us up for months is still there. I don’t think the current situation demands a multitrillion-dollar package. So I think it should be highly targeted, very similar to what I put on the floor both in October and September.”


thefiscaltimes--2020-11-11--We’re Entering ‘Covid Hell’

We’re Entering ‘Covid Hell’

The Covid-19 pandemic is raging across the United States , and the numbers are simply staggering : • New cases have topped 100,000 a day for seven straight days as of Tuesday , with an average of 119,000 new infections a day over that time .
We hit another record high of 136,325 new coronavirus infections yesterday , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
• More than 1,400 deaths were reported on Tuesday , reportedly the highest total since August .
• The U.S. had more than 1 million new cases over the first 10 days of November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pace .
• The 15 days with the highest number of new cases have all taken place over the past 18 days , Axios notes .
• Hospitalizations , up about 30 % since the beginning of the month , have reached a new high of 61,964 , according to the Covid Tracking Project , surpassing levels seen in April and July .
• In all , about 10.3 million Americans have tested positive for the virus and more than 240,000 have died .
Texas has become the first state to surpass 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the grim picture across a number of other states : “ Ohio has had an ‘ unprecedented spike ’ in Covid-19 hospital admissions .
ICU beds in Tulsa , Oklahoma , are full .
North Dakota ’ s hospitals don ’ t have enough doctors and nurses .
And hospital administrators in Iowa are warning that they are approaching their limits.
” But the surge this time isn ’ t limited to any one region .
All but eight states are in the “ red zone ” for Covid-19 cases , meaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per 100,000 residents over the prior week , according to a White House coronavirus task force report issued Tuesday and described by the Center for Public Integrity .
Public health experts warn that the situation is likely to grow much worse over the coming months , with the holidays posing the threat of super-spreading events across the country and hospitals in many places ill-equipped to handle the rising number of cases even as medical treatment of cases has improved substantially .
Experts are again worried about the strain on hospital capacity , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have legitimate reason to be very , very concerned about our health system at a national level , '' Lauren Sauer , an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Johns Hopkins University who studies hospital surge capacity , told NPR .
That all portends a very dark winter ahead .
“ What America has to understand is that we are about to enter Covid hell , ” Dr. Michael Osterholm , director of the Center of Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota and a member of President-elect Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told CNBC on Monday .
“ You ’ re going to see not just case numbers going up , the number of people hospitalized going up , but you ’ re going to see the case fatality rates also increase substantially .
The next three to four months are going to be , by far , the darkest of the pandemic.
” That outlook is made all the more troubling by the prospect that President Trump could be focused on contesting the election results or , if he accepts his loss , may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in addressing the pandemic and enacting measures to control it .
Trump ’ s efforts to impede the transition to a Biden administration could also be costly , as Andy Card and John Podesta , who served as White House chiefs of staff under Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton , respectively , warn in The Washington Post .
“ With the covid-19 pandemic continuing to wreak havoc , the costs of a delay are much higher today than almost any time in U.S. history , ” they write .
“ Specifically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cooperation between the outgoing and incoming administrations could hinder economic recovery , slow the distribution of a vaccine and , God forbid , put American lives at risk.
” What we need to do : “ This is not a question of lockdowns vs no lockdowns , ” Dr. Scott Gottlieb , former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration , said Wednesday .
“ The question is how do we take targeted measures , get broader compliance to prudent steps like masks , distancing , avoiding large gatherings ; to reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system does n't risk getting overwhelmed .
”

The Covid-19 pandemic is raging across the United States, and the numbers are simply staggering:
New cases have topped 100,000 a day for seven straight days as of Tuesday, with an average of 119,000 new infections a day over that time. We hit another record high of 136,325 new coronavirus infections yesterday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
More than 1,400 deaths were reported on Tuesday, reportedly the highest total since August.
The U.S. had more than 1 million new cases over the first 10 days of November, with infections rising at an accelerating pace.
The 15 days with the highest number of new cases have all taken place over the past 18 days, Axios notes.
Hospitalizations, up about 30% since the beginning of the month, have reached a new high of 61,964, according to the Covid Tracking Project, surpassing levels seen in April and July.
In all, about 10.3 million Americans have tested positive for the virus and more than 240,000 have died.
Texas has become the first state to surpass 1 million confirmed cases. And CNBC reports on the grim picture across a number of other states: “Ohio has had an ‘unprecedented spike’ in Covid-19 hospital admissions. ICU beds in Tulsa, Oklahoma, are full. North Dakota’s hospitals don’t have enough doctors and nurses. And hospital administrators in Iowa are warning that they are approaching their limits.”
But the surge this time isn’t limited to any one region. All but eight states are in the “red zone” for Covid-19 cases, meaning they had more than 100 new cases per 100,000 residents over the prior week, according to a White House coronavirus task force report issued Tuesday and described by the Center for Public Integrity.
Public health experts warn that the situation is likely to grow much worse over the coming months, with the holidays posing the threat of super-spreading events across the country and hospitals in many places ill-equipped to handle the rising number of cases even as medical treatment of cases has improved substantially. Experts are again worried about the strain on hospital capacity, and burnout among health-care professionals. "We have legitimate reason to be very, very concerned about our health system at a national level," Lauren Sauer, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Johns Hopkins University who studies hospital surge capacity, told NPR.
That all portends a very dark winter ahead. “What America has to understand is that we are about to enter Covid hell,” Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center of Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota and a member of President-elect Joe Biden’s new coronavirus advisory board, told CNBC on Monday. “You’re going to see not just case numbers going up, the number of people hospitalized going up, but you’re going to see the case fatality rates also increase substantially. The next three to four months are going to be, by far, the darkest of the pandemic.”
That outlook is made all the more troubling by the prospect that President Trump could be focused on contesting the election results or, if he accepts his loss, may nevertheless be even less interested than before in addressing the pandemic and enacting measures to control it.
Trump’s efforts to impede the transition to a Biden administration could also be costly, as Andy Card and John Podesta, who served as White House chiefs of staff under Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, respectively, warn in The Washington Post. “With the covid-19 pandemic continuing to wreak havoc, the costs of a delay are much higher today than almost any time in U.S. history,” they write. “Specifically, a delayed transition and the absence of cooperation between the outgoing and incoming administrations could hinder economic recovery, slow the distribution of a vaccine and, God forbid, put American lives at risk.”
What we need to do: “This is not a question of lockdowns vs no lockdowns,” Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, said Wednesday. “The question is how do we take targeted measures, get broader compliance to prudent steps like masks, distancing, avoiding large gatherings; to reduce, slow spread so that the healthcare system doesn't risk getting overwhelmed.”


thefiscaltimes--2020-11-17--Biden Calls on Congress to Quickly Pass Large Coronavirus Stimulus Bill

President-elect Joe Biden on Monday called on Congress to quickly pass a major coronavirus-relief bill along the lines of the $ 3.4 trillion HEROES Act passed by the Democratic-led House in May .
“ We ’ re going into a very dark winter .
Things are going to get much tougher before they get easier .
That requires sparing no effort to fight Covid , ” Biden said .
Biden he emphasized the need to provide more help to state and local governments facing a budget crunch as a result of the pandemic .
That aid has been a major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ package , with President Trump and other Republicans objecting to what they describe as bailing out badly run Democratic states .
“ There ’ s a reason why the federal government is able to run a deficit , because the states must , must balance their budgets , and they ’ re in real trouble , ” he said .
“ You ’ re going to see hundreds of thousands of police officers , firefighters , first responders , mental health clinics – you ’ re going to see them going out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come together and pass a Covid-relief package like the HEROES Act that the House passed six months ago .
Once we shut down the virus and deliver economic relief to workers and businesses , then we can start to build back better than before.
” Biden ’ s newly appointed chief of staff , Ron Klain , told NBC ’ s “ Meet the Press ” on Sunday that the president-elect wants a relief package during the lame-duck session of Congress that begins this week .
“ We need action during the lame-duck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are going to have to wait until Joe Biden is president , ” Klain said .
“ This is not one of them.
” Trump calls for ‘ big and focused ’ stimulus : Trump on Saturday called on Congress to pass another stimulus bill , but whereas before the election he had urged lawmakers to “ go big ” on a relief deal — at times suggesting that he would support a package larger than the $ 2-plus trillion Democrats wanted — his weekend tweet seemed to combine Democrats ’ calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s desire for more “ targeted ” relief .
`` Congress must now do a Covid Relief Bill , '' Trump wrote on Twitter .
`` Needs Democrats support .
Make it big and focused .
Get it done ! ''
Biden on Monday criticized Trump for not doing more about the crisis .
“ The idea that the president is still playing golf and not doing anything about it is beyond my comprehension .
You ’ d at least think he ’ d want to go off on a positive note @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans senators who might object to any additional coronavirus relief package to “ stand up and save lives and jobs now.
” What it all means : Republicans and Democrats are still sharply divided over a relief package , and lawmakers are also dealing with a December 11 deadline to pass another bill to fund the government and avert a shutdown .
Biden ’ s call for a major stimulus aren ’ t likely to get Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) or other GOP members to suddenly drop their objections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more on an aid bill .
“ The mostly likely outcome is another stopgap spending bill , perhaps into late February or early March , with some limited bipartisan COVID-19 aid attached .
That ’ s the view of Capitol Hill officials in both parties and other legislative experts , ” Roll Call ’ s Paul M. Krawzak reported Monday morning , before Biden ’ s speech .

President-elect Joe Biden on Monday called on Congress to quickly pass a major coronavirus-relief bill along the lines of the $3.4 trillion HEROES Act passed by the Democratic-led House in May.
“We’re going into a very dark winter. Things are going to get much tougher before they get easier. That requires sparing no effort to fight Covid,” Biden said.
Biden he emphasized the need to provide more help to state and local governments facing a budget crunch as a result of the pandemic. That aid has been a major sticking point in negotiations on another stimulus package, with President Trump and other Republicans objecting to what they describe as bailing out badly run Democratic states.
“There’s a reason why the federal government is able to run a deficit, because the states must, must balance their budgets, and they’re in real trouble,” he said. “You’re going to see hundreds of thousands of police officers, firefighters, first responders, mental health clinics – you’re going to see them going out of business. Right now, Congress should come together and pass a Covid-relief package like the HEROES Act that the House passed six months ago. Once we shut down the virus and deliver economic relief to workers and businesses, then we can start to build back better than before.”
Biden’s newly appointed chief of staff, Ron Klain, told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that the president-elect wants a relief package during the lame-duck session of Congress that begins this week. “We need action during the lame-duck. There are a lot of things that are going to have to wait until Joe Biden is president,” Klain said. “This is not one of them.”
Trump calls for ‘big and focused’ stimulus: Trump on Saturday called on Congress to pass another stimulus bill, but whereas before the election he had urged lawmakers to “go big” on a relief deal — at times suggesting that he would support a package larger than the $2-plus trillion Democrats wanted — his weekend tweet seemed to combine Democrats’ calls for a big bill with the GOP’s desire for more “targeted” relief.
"Congress must now do a Covid Relief Bill," Trump wrote on Twitter. "Needs Democrats support. Make it big and focused. Get it done!"
Biden on Monday criticized Trump for not doing more about the crisis. “The idea that the president is still playing golf and not doing anything about it is beyond my comprehension. You’d at least think he’d want to go off on a positive note." The president-elect also called on Republicans senators who might object to any additional coronavirus relief package to “stand up and save lives and jobs now.”
What it all means: Republicans and Democrats are still sharply divided over a relief package, and lawmakers are also dealing with a December 11 deadline to pass another bill to fund the government and avert a shutdown. Biden’s call for a major stimulus aren’t likely to get Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) or other GOP members to suddenly drop their objections to spending another $2 trillion or more on an aid bill.
“The mostly likely outcome is another stopgap spending bill, perhaps into late February or early March, with some limited bipartisan COVID-19 aid attached. That’s the view of Capitol Hill officials in both parties and other legislative experts,” Roll Call’s Paul M. Krawzak reported Monday morning, before Biden’s speech.


thefiscaltimes--2020-11-16--Moderna’s Covid-19 Vaccine Nearly 95% Effective, Trials Show

Biotech company Moderna announced Monday that its experimental coronavirus vaccine was 94.5 % effective , according to preliminary trial data .
It ’ s the second announcement of a promising vaccine candidate this month , after Pfizer said last week that its own vaccine was more than 90 % effective in trials .
Both vaccines use mRNA , meaning that they use a string of genetic code rather than the coronavirus itself to prompt an immune response .
The studies are continuing and it ’ s not clear yet how long any vaccine protection may last , but the results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available on a limited basis before the end of the year and more widely available by April , helping to meet U.S. and global demand .
The news also raised hopes that the pandemic , which has now seen more than 11 million cases in the United States , could be brought under control next year .
“ Once we get these vaccines in sufficient qualities heading in 2021 , the combination of the fact that a lot of the population will have already had Covid , combined with the fact that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a highly effective vaccine , we could effectively end this pandemic in 2021 , ” Dr. Scott Gottlieb , a former head of the Food and Drug Administration , told CNBC .
Moderna was part of Operation Warp Speed , the Trump administration ’ s vaccine development program .
It received nearly $ 1 billion from the U.S. government to support its Covid vaccine research .

Biotech company Moderna announced Monday that its experimental coronavirus vaccine was 94.5% effective, according to preliminary trial data. It’s the second announcement of a promising vaccine candidate this month, after Pfizer said last week that its own vaccine was more than 90% effective in trials. Both vaccines use mRNA, meaning that they use a string of genetic code rather than the coronavirus itself to prompt an immune response.
The studies are continuing and it’s not clear yet how long any vaccine protection may last, but the results raised hopes that multiple vaccines will be available on a limited basis before the end of the year and more widely available by April, helping to meet U.S. and global demand. The news also raised hopes that the pandemic, which has now seen more than 11 million cases in the United States, could be brought under control next year.
“Once we get these vaccines in sufficient qualities heading in 2021, the combination of the fact that a lot of the population will have already had Covid, combined with the fact that we’ll be vaccinating the public with a highly effective vaccine, we could effectively end this pandemic in 2021,” Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a former head of the Food and Drug Administration, told CNBC.
Moderna was part of Operation Warp Speed, the Trump administration’s vaccine development program. It received nearly $1 billion from the U.S. government to support its Covid vaccine research.


thefiscaltimes--2020-11-13--Pelosi Declares ‘Red Alert’ on Stimulus

Pelosi Declares ‘Red Alert’ on Stimulus

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) on Friday called for a renewal of negotiations on the stalled Covid-19 relief bill , saying that Congress must act now as the virus surges again around the country .
“ Our focus in the lame duck continues to be on Covid relief -- this is a red alert , ” Pelosi said at a press conference .
“ I urge Republicans to acknowledge the crisis and come to the table to work on Covid relief.
” No talks are currently scheduled , however , and as we told you yesterday , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) can bridge the more than $ 1 trillion gap between Democratic and Republican proposals for the relief bill before President-elect Joe Biden takes office .
Cases soar : Pelosi ’ s comments come as the U.S. reports a record number of positive Covid tests on a single day .
“ More than 153,000 new cases were recorded in the U.S. and the nation ’ s total topped 10.5 million , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University , ” The Wall Street Journal reported Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states recording more than 1 million cases .
Looking for federal help : State and local officials are hesitating to take aggressive steps to halt the spread of the virus , due in part to a lack of fiscal support , the Associated Press reported Friday .
“ I think that governors and mayors are , again , are in a really tough spot , ” Dr. Megan Ranney , an emergency physician at Brown University , told the AP .
“ The American population is emotionally and economically exhausted .
I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governors and mayors could and should be doing right now .
But the trouble is , without support from the federal government , it becomes very difficult to do these things , ” Ranney said , citing financial aid for businesses as a key factor .

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Friday called for a renewal of negotiations on the stalled Covid-19 relief bill, saying that Congress must act now as the virus surges again around the country.
“Our focus in the lame duck continues to be on Covid relief -- this is a red alert,” Pelosi said at a press conference. “I urge Republicans to acknowledge the crisis and come to the table to work on Covid relief.”
No talks are currently scheduled, however, and as we told you yesterday, there is considerable doubt that Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) can bridge the more than $1 trillion gap between Democratic and Republican proposals for the relief bill before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.
Cases soar: Pelosi’s comments come as the U.S. reports a record number of positive Covid tests on a single day. “More than 153,000 new cases were recorded in the U.S. and the nation’s total topped 10.5 million, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University,” The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. California has now joined Texas as states recording more than 1 million cases.
Looking for federal help: State and local officials are hesitating to take aggressive steps to halt the spread of the virus, due in part to a lack of fiscal support, the Associated Press reported Friday. “I think that governors and mayors are, again, are in a really tough spot,” Dr. Megan Ranney, an emergency physician at Brown University, told the AP. “The American population is emotionally and economically exhausted. I think that there are some minimum things that governors and mayors could and should be doing right now. But the trouble is, without support from the federal government, it becomes very difficult to do these things,” Ranney said, citing financial aid for businesses as a key factor.


thefiscaltimes--2020-11-12--Trump White House Plans Its Final Policy Moves

While the White House has walked away from stimulus talks and President Trump is focused on his grievances over his election loss , administration officials are mapping out a number of policy moves they could make in their final days in office , touching on a variety of issues including education , immigration , health care and trade .
According to Politico ’ s Nancy Cook and Gabby Orr , White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows asked aides earlier this week to provide a list of conservative policy goals the administration could push through in the next 10 weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
From a reported list of about 15 possible initiatives , changes under consideration include tightening rules related to H-1B visas , which allow American companies to hire foreign workers , and providing coronavirus relief payments to parents in districts where schools have been closed due to the pandemic , while allowing those funds to be used for charter and private schools .
Impact is uncertain : Trump has issued executive orders and actions in the past that have had no clear effect in the real world , standing as symbolic statements rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected new round of communiqués may share a similar fate .
One Trump adviser says the moves could be intended to influence the next president .
“ It will put pressure on Biden because a lot of the ideas are popular things , ” outsider economic adviser Stephen Moore said .
“ It would be a little politically tough for Biden to go into the White House and cancel them.
” Nevertheless , Biden reportedly has plans to undo several of Trump ’ s controversial executive orders on the day he takes office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , protections for immigrants , environmental rules and public health regulations .
Another important agenda item : “ In addition to rolling out executive orders and actions , Trump ’ s plans for the next several weeks include firing Cabinet officials who have irked him or refused to follow his lead on investigations , ” Cook and Orr say .
Defense Secretary Mark Esper , who was pushed out on Monday , may be the first of many firings in the weeks ahead .
Other vulnerable officials include FBI Director Christopher Wray and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reportedly been advised , however , that moving too aggressively on firings could be a problem , especially when it comes to Wray , since FBI directors typically serve 10-year terms .
“ Lawyers have warned the president that he could be more vulnerable to congressional investigation once he is no longer in office , ” The Wall Street Journal ’ s Rebecca Ballhaus and Andrew Restuccia said Thursday .

While the White House has walked away from stimulus talks and President Trump is focused on his grievances over his election loss, administration officials are mapping out a number of policy moves they could make in their final days in office, touching on a variety of issues including education, immigration, health care and trade.
According to Politico’s Nancy Cook and Gabby Orr, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows asked aides earlier this week to provide a list of conservative policy goals the administration could push through in the next 10 weeks via executive action or agency rule changes.
From a reported list of about 15 possible initiatives, changes under consideration include tightening rules related to H-1B visas, which allow American companies to hire foreign workers, and providing coronavirus relief payments to parents in districts where schools have been closed due to the pandemic, while allowing those funds to be used for charter and private schools.
Impact is uncertain: Trump has issued executive orders and actions in the past that have had no clear effect in the real world, standing as symbolic statements rather than truly operational directives, and this expected new round of communiqués may share a similar fate. One Trump adviser says the moves could be intended to influence the next president. “It will put pressure on Biden because a lot of the ideas are popular things,” outsider economic adviser Stephen Moore said. “It would be a little politically tough for Biden to go into the White House and cancel them.”
Nevertheless, Biden reportedly has plans to undo several of Trump’s controversial executive orders on the day he takes office, including ones related to travel bans, protections for immigrants, environmental rules and public health regulations.
Another important agenda item: “In addition to rolling out executive orders and actions, Trump’s plans for the next several weeks include firing Cabinet officials who have irked him or refused to follow his lead on investigations,” Cook and Orr say. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who was pushed out on Monday, may be the first of many firings in the weeks ahead. Other vulnerable officials include FBI Director Christopher Wray and CIA Director Gina Haspel.
Trump has reportedly been advised, however, that moving too aggressively on firings could be a problem, especially when it comes to Wray, since FBI directors typically serve 10-year terms. “Lawyers have warned the president that he could be more vulnerable to congressional investigation once he is no longer in office,” The Wall Street Journal’s Rebecca Ballhaus and Andrew Restuccia said Thursday.