dailysignal--2020-12-09--Congress’ Race to Pass COVID-19 Relief Package

The clock is ticking as Congress attempts to reach bipartisan agreement on a COVID-19 relief bill before Christmas .
After multiple failed attempts to agree upon what should be included in a new aid package , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , are trying one more time to pass the package before year ’ s end .
Garrett Bess , vice president of government relations and communications at Heritage Action for America , the grassroots partner organization of The Heritage Foundation , joins the show to break down what you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how much it may add to the national debt .
We also discuss these stories : • Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton files a lawsuit against Pennsylvania , Georgia , Michigan , and Wisconsin as a result of the presidential election .
• Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy says he will fire or suspend 14 personnel over sexual harassment and violence , including cases of suicide and homicide .
“ The Daily Signal Podcast ” is available on Ricochet , Apple Podcasts , Pippa , Google Play , and Stitcher .
All of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you like what you hear , please leave a review .
You also can leave us a message at 202-608-6205 or write us at [ email protected ] Virginia Allen : I am joined by Garrett Bess , the vice president of government relations and communications at Heritage Action for America , the grassroots partner organization of The Heritage Foundation .
Garrett , welcome to the show .
Garrett Bess : Thank you , Virginia .
Appreciate you having me on .
Allen : So this week Congress is in negotiations over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pass before the end of the year .
Congress has really struggled to have a bipartisan agreement with one another on this aid package on what should and shouldn ’ t be included .
So as we ’ re quickly approaching Christmas , Republicans and Democrats , they ’ re talking right now about the possibilities of what should be in this package .
So can you just give us a few quick highlights , big picture , what do we know right now about this bill ?
Bess : Sure .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ debates that are sort of being conflagrated together .
You have the end-of-year spending bill that has to get done .
Government funding runs out December 11th at midnight , and this is something that we ’ ve known about for months .
This is something that tends to happen every year about this time .
But on top of that , this year , you have work going on to attach to that spending bill an additional COVID spending package .
And there ’ s several main components to the debate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being included in this first proposal that I ’ m sure we ’ ll talk about in a second .
The first one is basically relief and help assistance for businesses and particularly small businesses that took the form of the Paycheck Protection Program earlier this year , and there ’ s an effort to revive that program .
Additionally , there ’ s sort of health expenditures .
So things that are directly targeted at COVID relief , such as money for vaccinations , money for therapeutics , etc .
Then there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ categorize as sort of economic stimulus-type stuff , designed to bolster the economy sort of post-COVID or deal with the economic downturn of COVID .
And this is where a bulk of the debate is occurring .
Many people on the left want to backfill the coffers of state and local governments ’ budgets from decreased tax revenue due to lockdowns .
And there ’ s also an effort to include another round of stimulus checks of some kind directly to individuals and families .
And then there ’ s an unemployment insurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , in addition to the expanded unemployment insurance program that generally is functioning in sort of normal times , there was an additional $ 600 per week payment lumped in on top of that unemployment insurance payment .
And this resulted in people actually being paid more on unemployment than they were in their jobs .
That was reduced in July to $ 300 a week , and that is set to expire .
So that ’ s part of the conversation as well .
Allen : All right .
So , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a little bit deeper to kind of a number of those elements that you mentioned here in just a second .
… So our audience knows , we ’ re having this conversation on Tuesday afternoon , things are changing quickly .
But do we know right now how much this bill is proposing ?
How many billions ?
Bess : Yeah , so , just to back up slightly from this week for a second , there ’ s been several proposals that have floated around .
Primarily the two main proposals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats led by [ House Speaker Nancy ] Pelosi .
That was roughly $ 2.5 trillion of additional spending .
And then [ Senate Majority Leader Mitch ] McConnell and Senate Republicans sort of floated a much narrower , more targeted COVID relief bill that roughly scored about $ 500 billion .
So … those have been the two , basically , competing visions for how to deal with COVID relief over the preceding months .
About this time last week , maybe a couple of days sooner , there was a bipartisan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Mitt ] Romney from Utah and a couple other Republican senators who teamed up with some Democrat senators , who came up with a proposal that is sort of the base for a lot of the discussions this week .
It scores about $ 908 billion .
So roughly about a trillion-dollar spending bill .
And that is sort of the base framework for the discussions this week .
What ended up happening was [ former ] Vice President [ Joe ] Biden , from what we understand , called Speaker Pelosi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schumer , and said , “ You should take that deal .
And then we can go back later next year and get another round of spending under our belts.
” So that was kind of the conversation that occurred that broke the log jam on the left .
And from what we understand now , it ’ s essentially House and Senate Democrats agreeing that this is a bipartisan proposal that they would support .
Supposedly the White House is involved in talks about the only remaining sticking point is House and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off yet on this bill .
Allen : All right .
So as it stands right now , one of those elements that has potentially , maybe sort of been tossed out in order to get that bipartisan agreement is around those specific stimulus checks that , of course , with the CARES Act , the majority of employed Americans were sent and many unemployed , obviously unemployed , a $ 1,200 stimulus check .
So that ’ s something that Democrats really wanted , again , but that ’ s something that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ OK , we can wait until next year to do that.
” Bess : That ’ s an interesting debate that ’ s going on because you actually have a wing of Republicans in Congress that want it as well , and they ’ re not necessarily teaming up with the progressive wing of the Democrat Party , but they are based sort of on their own , angling for the same goal .
And that is direct relief to American individuals and families .
It ’ s widely sort of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of $ 1,200 payments , that that ’ s what they ’ re sort of pushing for .
Whether they ’ re successful or not , I don ’ t know .
I think that President [ Donald ] Trump is inclined to agree with that argument .
And so it ’ ll be interesting to see how much he leans into it .
Right now , they are not included in this bipartisan proposal .
The main components of the proposal being reauthorizing the Paycheck Protection Program at sort of roughly the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state and local governments at roughly a $ 250 billion mark , and then the reauthorization of this additional supplemental unemployment insurance payment at a $ 300 per week amount .
So those are the three main components and there ’ s , of course , ancillary components , but currently the direct payments are part of the discussion .
Allen : OK .
So let ’ s chat about that aid for small businesses and businesses as a whole .
I know for my own family , a number of whom run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incredibly challenging year .
And the Christmas season is full of lots of expenses .
People are really , by this time , kind of scraping the bottom of the barrel .
So for small business owners , is this going to be really critical relief ?
What does this relief look like coming out of this aid package potentially ?
Bess : I ’ m going to be careful on how I answer this because there ’ s definitely a health component of sort of the spread of COVID that is impacting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably a warranted discussion we could have around making sure that those small businesses can survive short-term downturns , but a lot of the pain being afflicted on small businesses have to do with lockdowns that are not necessarily based on good sound science and public health policy .
And so I think there is sort of an initial amount of relief and assistance that should be provided to small businesses .
And that ’ s something that [ The ] Heritage Foundation has supported , even going back to March with an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employee retention tax credit was not the base program that ended up being formed .
Instead , Congress came up with the Paycheck Protection Program .
We ’ re not sort of fundamentally opposed to the Paycheck Protection Program .
We agree with its general merits .
And we agree with the general way in which it was trying to solve a problem .
But small business owners have had a lot of sort of mixed reviews about how well the program has functioned .
We still believe that the best way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to maintain the connection between the employee and the employer , and to limit lockdowns to localized situations for short durations of time , as COVID spikes in a particular small region .
These massive lockdowns … really have a negative impact on small businesses .
In our view , the way to help small businesses is to reopen , allow them to reopen safely , as quickly as possible .
There ’ s no amount of government spending that can replace the private sector economy .
Allen : Yeah , I know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have covered closely here at The Heritage Foundation .
Couldn ’ t have said it better .
That ’ s such a priority to make sure that that connection , like you say , is remaining between business owners and their employees , and that allows for sustainability moving forward .
But I wanted to ask you , you brought up earlier as we were chatting … one of the controversial elements of this bill being funding for state and local government bailouts .
Many Republicans oppose this , they say , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re giving money to these struggling states , to these struggling cities , what is often the case is you ’ re just bailing out Democratic-run states and cities.
” Their budgets have been mismanaged for years already , $ 150 billion worth of aid was provided to state and local governments under the CARES Act this spring .
Where do these negotiations stand right now around aid , specifically to state and local governments ?
Bess : It ’ s a great question .
And this is something that Heritage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading the debate on , on the conservative side of the ledger for months now .
So far , we have been winning this debate .
Conservative politicians on Capitol Hill have largely stayed with us on this issue .
They have so far been able to keep direct bailouts of state and local governments out of the talks and out of legislation .
Whether they ’ re able to maintain that through this next round is really , I think , up to organizations like ours to provide them with the necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And also to Americans who agree with us , to call their elected members and let them know that while it is the holidays and while a lot of people are focused on the ongoing issues with the presidential election and the two Senate special elections in Georgia , we are also watching Capitol Hill .
And the last thing that we want to see happen is for states that have been mismanaged , for sometimes decades , to use the COVID crisis as an excuse for getting government money and just simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That would be atrocious , particularly for Americans that live in states that have managed their budgets well , who have worked hard through the years to keep their spending in line with their revenues , to simply send money to states like New York , who in the midst of a COVID downturn , lockdown of the state , … I believe their state budget increased last year by $ 8 billion .
That increase is actually more than many states ’ across this country entire budget .
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the smaller states actually don ’ t have huge budgets .
And so for them to do that and give state workers a pay raise while private sector employees are getting cut left and right , and governments are refusing to let them do business , is just an astonishing mismanagement and we should not be covering for them .
Allen : One of the really fascinating parts of the bill that is being proposed , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , he ’ s been a strong advocate for including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses , and other organizations from COVID-related lawsuits .
So this isn ’ t necessarily a financial gift , but it ’ s guarding people ’ s finances .
So this is essentially a financial shield that would protect businesses from losing money on lawsuits .
What are your thoughts on including a legal safeguard like this in the bill ?
Bess : Well , I think it ’ s imperative .
The left is going to do everything they can to keep that out of any sort of discussion , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shield in place so that businesses that do try to just get their doors back open aren ’ t immediately swamped with lawsuits from people claiming that they contracted COVID in that establishment .
You can imagine , I mean , government guidance on COVID has been inconsistent , to say the least , since March .
At first , we were told not to wear a mask , then we were told to wear masks , and then social distancing rules were sort of suggested at varying lengths .
I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the local ordinance required 10 feet of social distancing .
So it ’ s just been uneven and it ’ s been something that small businesses in particular have had a really hard time navigating .
And to put yourself in the shoes of a small business person who is simply trying to reopen their restaurant and serve food again , to be met with an onslaught of lawsuits would just be disastrous for our economy .
And so , including some sort of liability protection as it relates to COVID I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back on its feet .
Allen : So , Garrett , the clock is ticking , though .
We don ’ t have many days before Congress is set to head home for the Christmas holiday .
So , … can this bill be passed and do you think it ’ s possible before Christmas that this actually can get passed ?
Bess : Well , I do think it can get passed .
You know what , there ’ s basically three really big pieces of legislation that are moving this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t discuss and that ’ s the National Defense Authorization Act .
This is the authorization legislation for the entire Defense Department and budget .
… That ’ s a whole different discussion and I won ’ t get into that , but that is on the floor of the House today .
And we expect it to be passed by the House and then the Senate later this week .
So that ’ s one piece of legislation that ’ s moving .
December 11th , like I mentioned , is when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s this coming Friday at midnight .
We could talk about the particulars of how governments shut down and why .
Oftentimes our elected leaders choose Friday at midnight to have government expire because it basically gives them an extra Saturday and Sunday to negotiate a funding deal without the Americans really seeing the impact of a government shutdown , but we expect the House to pass a one-week continuing resolution to simply extend government funding for one more week .
So that funding should pass the House and pass the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18th at midnight , which , because that ’ s also a Friday night , will essentially give them until about December 20th to negotiate some sort of financial spending bill .
So with that as the backdrop , that is how COVID negotiations are occurring .
It ’ s definitely possible to do this .
This is a play that is well-known in Washington .
The holidays distract people .
The holidays also provide a means by which many times elected leaders use to basically push rank-and-file members up against their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Christmas and New Year ’ s to get votes that they otherwise wouldn ’ t get .
So this is a known playbook .
They definitely can get it done .
I think it will depend upon organizations like ours to make sure that whatever passes is not disastrous or the disastrous elements are mitigated in some way .
But I think if you were to ask me here on Tuesday , December 8th , whether I think it ’ s likely that it would get done , I think there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these things done , but sometimes what ends up happening in D.C. is D.C. actually puts too many things in a bill and it sort of collapses under its own weight .
I think , probably , we ’ ll see how the next week unfolds , but I think , probably , there ’ s just too many decisions , there ’ s too much disagreement , and that we will see some sort of several-month continuing resolution to kick government funding down the road another three months or so .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again in the new year .
Allen : So , if I could ask you on a scale of one to 10 , with one being low probability and 10 being high , how likely do you think it is that Congress is going to be able to agree and pass an aid package before the end of the year ?
Bess : Yeah .
Trying to put me on the top seat here .
I would give it a middling chance .
So I ’ d probably do somewhere around a four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of energy that is designed to basically get a COVID relief bill done and attach it to an omnibus spending bill .
COVID relief needs an omnibus spending bill to sort of ride on .
And right now there ’ s a lot of disagreements in the omnibus spending bill that we didn ’ t discuss .
So the first step in this process would have to be getting the omnibus disagreements ironed out .
That is a huge task in and of itself .
And then you have to pivot to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And frankly , I think … the sort of two sides are miles apart still on their main asks .
So as long as they stay entrenched on their main asks and not sort of shelve areas that they disagree on , then … I just don ’ t think the COVID relief bill ’ s talks go much further .
I think the other open-ended question about this is whether Republicans believe that this is going to be the last time that Democrats ask for more spending on COVID .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that .
And they think that all Democrats are going to do is get this round of spending at a trillion dollars and then come back next year and bash Republicans again , trying to get more money .
So I think the Republicans will probably dig in a little bit here .
So that ’ s why I gave it like a four or five on the scale .
Allen : Well , Garrett , … it concerns me a little bit how loosely I do feel like Congress throws billions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve just seen this year , our national debt is climbing and climbing and climbing , and of course people are struggling , businesses need relief , but does it concern you how it almost seems like we are at an accelerated rate becoming a little bit looser and looser with the national pocketbook ?
Bess : Yeah .
I mean , it ’ s astounding .
This bill , if it comes together , an omnibus spending package along with a COVID spending package , this ’ ll be most likely depending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second-most expensive bill in American history .
The first one being CARES Act , which passed earlier this year .
So to your point , between CARES and then this new round of talks , if they come to maturation and actually produce a bill , between CARES , that bill , it will be most likely well north of $ 5 trillion of spending this year between the two of them .
That will be the single biggest expenditure in U.S. history .
And so , I think we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bipartisan compromise bill at $ 1 trillion is something that everybody sort of rallies around as a low-number piece of legislation .
$ 1 trillion is not small beans and to add as much debt to our national debt load this year as we already have , and potentially still are going to add in the next week or two , is just really astounding .
We ’ re sort of accelerating down a path that we ’ ve been on for a long time and now we ’ re just sort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Allen : Yeah .
Well , Garrett , it ’ s going to be interesting to watch over the next two weeks as all this unfolds and what happens as we head into the Christmas holiday .
But really appreciate your time today and you breaking all this down for us .
Bess : Virginia , appreciate you having me on .
Have a good Christmas .
Allen : You as well .

The clock is ticking as Congress attempts to reach bipartisan agreement on a COVID-19 relief bill before Christmas. After multiple failed attempts to agree upon what should be included in a new aid package, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., are trying one more time to pass the package before year’s end.
Garrett Bess, vice president of government relations and communications at Heritage Action for America, the grassroots partner organization of The Heritage Foundation, joins the show to break down what you need to know about the proposal and how much it may add to the national debt.
We also discuss these stories:
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton files a lawsuit against Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin as a result of the presidential election.
Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy says he will fire or suspend 14 personnel over sexual harassment and violence, including cases of suicide and homicide.
Joe Biden selects retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin as secretary of defense.
“The Daily Signal Podcast” is available on Ricochet, Apple Podcasts, Pippa, Google Play, and Stitcher. All of our podcasts can be found at DailySignal.com/podcasts. If you like what you hear, please leave a review. You also can leave us a message at 202-608-6205 or write us at letters@dailysignal.com.
Virginia Allen: I am joined by Garrett Bess, the vice president of government relations and communications at Heritage Action for America, the grassroots partner organization of The Heritage Foundation. Garrett, welcome to the show.
Garrett Bess: Thank you, Virginia. Appreciate you having me on.
Allen: So this week Congress is in negotiations over a COVID-19 relief bill that they hope to pass before the end of the year. Congress has really struggled to have a bipartisan agreement with one another on this aid package on what should and shouldn’t be included.
So as we’re quickly approaching Christmas, Republicans and Democrats, they’re talking right now about the possibilities of what should be in this package. So can you just give us a few quick highlights, big picture, what do we know right now about this bill?
Bess: Sure. And there’s basically two separate debates that are sort of being conflagrated together. You have the end-of-year spending bill that has to get done. Government funding runs out December 11th at midnight, and this is something that we’ve known about for months. This is something that tends to happen every year about this time.
But on top of that, this year, you have work going on to attach to that spending bill an additional COVID spending package. And there’s several main components to the debate, while not necessarily all of them are being included in this first proposal that I’m sure we’ll talk about in a second.
The first one is basically relief and help assistance for businesses and particularly small businesses that took the form of the Paycheck Protection Program earlier this year, and there’s an effort to revive that program.
Additionally, there’s sort of health expenditures. So things that are directly targeted at COVID relief, such as money for vaccinations, money for therapeutics, etc.
Then there’s sort of what I would categorize as sort of economic stimulus-type stuff, designed to bolster the economy sort of post-COVID or deal with the economic downturn of COVID. And this is where a bulk of the debate is occurring.
Many people on the left want to backfill the coffers of state and local governments’ budgets from decreased tax revenue due to lockdowns. And there’s also an effort to include another round of stimulus checks of some kind directly to individuals and families.
And then there’s an unemployment insurance provision that was included in CARES Act that, in addition to the expanded unemployment insurance program that generally is functioning in sort of normal times, there was an additional $600 per week payment lumped in on top of that unemployment insurance payment.
And this resulted in people actually being paid more on unemployment than they were in their jobs. That was reduced in July to $300 a week, and that is set to expire. So that’s part of the conversation as well.
Allen: All right. So, we’re going to dive in a little bit deeper to kind of a number of those elements that you mentioned here in just a second. …
So our audience knows, we’re having this conversation on Tuesday afternoon, things are changing quickly. But do we know right now how much this bill is proposing? How many billions?
Bess: Yeah, so, just to back up slightly from this week for a second, there’s been several proposals that have floated around. Primarily the two main proposals were, one from sort of the Democrats led by [House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi. That was roughly $2.5 trillion of additional spending.
And then [Senate Majority Leader Mitch] McConnell and Senate Republicans sort of floated a much narrower, more targeted COVID relief bill that roughly scored about $500 billion.
So … those have been the two, basically, competing visions for how to deal with COVID relief over the preceding months.
About this time last week, maybe a couple of days sooner, there was a bipartisan group of senators led primarily by Sen. [Mitt] Romney from Utah and a couple other Republican senators who teamed up with some Democrat senators, who came up with a proposal that is sort of the base for a lot of the discussions this week. It scores about $908 billion. So roughly about a trillion-dollar spending bill. And that is sort of the base framework for the discussions this week.
What ended up happening was [former] Vice President [Joe] Biden, from what we understand, called Speaker Pelosi and [Senate] Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and said, “You should take that deal. And then we can go back later next year and get another round of spending under our belts.”
So that was kind of the conversation that occurred that broke the log jam on the left. And from what we understand now, it’s essentially House and Senate Democrats agreeing that this is a bipartisan proposal that they would support.
Supposedly the White House is involved in talks about the only remaining sticking point is House and Senate Republicans who have basically not signed off yet on this bill.
Allen: All right. So as it stands right now, one of those elements that has potentially, maybe sort of been tossed out in order to get that bipartisan agreement is around those specific stimulus checks that, of course, with the CARES Act, the majority of employed Americans were sent and many unemployed, obviously unemployed, a $1,200 stimulus check.
So that’s something that Democrats really wanted, again, but that’s something that they’re laying down and saying, “OK, we can wait until next year to do that.”
Bess: That’s an interesting debate that’s going on because you actually have a wing of Republicans in Congress that want it as well, and they’re not necessarily teaming up with the progressive wing of the Democrat Party, but they are based sort of on their own, angling for the same goal. And that is direct relief to American individuals and families.
It’s widely sort of discussed that there’s another round of $1,200 payments, that that’s what they’re sort of pushing for. Whether they’re successful or not, I don’t know. I think that President [Donald] Trump is inclined to agree with that argument. And so it’ll be interesting to see how much he leans into it.
Right now, they are not included in this bipartisan proposal. The main components of the proposal being reauthorizing the Paycheck Protection Program at sort of roughly the $300 billion mark, aid to state and local governments at roughly a $250 billion mark, and then the reauthorization of this additional supplemental unemployment insurance payment at a $300 per week amount.
So those are the three main components and there’s, of course, ancillary components, but currently the direct payments are part of the discussion.
Allen: OK. So let’s chat about that aid for small businesses and businesses as a whole. I know for my own family, a number of whom run small businesses, this has been an incredibly challenging year. And the Christmas season is full of lots of expenses. People are really, by this time, kind of scraping the bottom of the barrel.
So for small business owners, is this going to be really critical relief? What does this relief look like coming out of this aid package potentially?
Bess: I’m going to be careful on how I answer this because there’s definitely a health component of sort of the spread of COVID that is impacting small businesses.
And there’s probably a warranted discussion we could have around making sure that those small businesses can survive short-term downturns, but a lot of the pain being afflicted on small businesses have to do with lockdowns that are not necessarily based on good sound science and public health policy.
And so I think there is sort of an initial amount of relief and assistance that should be provided to small businesses. And that’s something that [The] Heritage Foundation has supported, even going back to March with an employee retention tax credit, while the employee retention tax credit was not the base program that ended up being formed.
Instead, Congress came up with the Paycheck Protection Program. We’re not sort of fundamentally opposed to the Paycheck Protection Program. We agree with its general merits. And we agree with the general way in which it was trying to solve a problem. But small business owners have had a lot of sort of mixed reviews about how well the program has functioned.
We still believe that the best way to help small businesses and their employees is to maintain the connection between the employee and the employer, and to limit lockdowns to localized situations for short durations of time, as COVID spikes in a particular small region.
These massive lockdowns … really have a negative impact on small businesses. In our view, the way to help small businesses is to reopen, allow them to reopen safely, as quickly as possible. There’s no amount of government spending that can replace the private sector economy.
Allen: Yeah, I know that’s definitely an issue that we have covered closely here at The Heritage Foundation. Couldn’t have said it better. That’s such a priority to make sure that that connection, like you say, is remaining between business owners and their employees, and that allows for sustainability moving forward.
But I wanted to ask you, you brought up earlier as we were chatting … one of the controversial elements of this bill being funding for state and local government bailouts.
Many Republicans oppose this, they say, “All right, well, if we’re giving money to these struggling states, to these struggling cities, what is often the case is you’re just bailing out Democratic-run states and cities.” Their budgets have been mismanaged for years already, $150 billion worth of aid was provided to state and local governments under the CARES Act this spring.
Where do these negotiations stand right now around aid, specifically to state and local governments?
Bess: It’s a great question. And this is something that Heritage Action and the Heritage Foundation have been leading the debate on, on the conservative side of the ledger for months now.
So far, we have been winning this debate. Conservative politicians on Capitol Hill have largely stayed with us on this issue. They have so far been able to keep direct bailouts of state and local governments out of the talks and out of legislation. Whether they’re able to maintain that through this next round is really, I think, up to organizations like ours to provide them with the necessary support to win on this issue.
And also to Americans who agree with us, to call their elected members and let them know that while it is the holidays and while a lot of people are focused on the ongoing issues with the presidential election and the two Senate special elections in Georgia, we are also watching Capitol Hill.
And the last thing that we want to see happen is for states that have been mismanaged, for sometimes decades, to use the COVID crisis as an excuse for getting government money and just simply bailing them out of their bad decisions.
That would be atrocious, particularly for Americans that live in states that have managed their budgets well, who have worked hard through the years to keep their spending in line with their revenues, to simply send money to states like New York, who in the midst of a COVID downturn, lockdown of the state, … I believe their state budget increased last year by $8 billion.
That increase is actually more than many states’ across this country entire budget. That’s a little shocking to believe, but some of the smaller states actually don’t have huge budgets. And so for them to do that and give state workers a pay raise while private sector employees are getting cut left and right, and governments are refusing to let them do business, is just an astonishing mismanagement and we should not be covering for them.
Allen: One of the really fascinating parts of the bill that is being proposed, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, he’s been a strong advocate for including a liability shield to protect universities, businesses, and other organizations from COVID-related lawsuits.
So this isn’t necessarily a financial gift, but it’s guarding people’s finances. So this is essentially a financial shield that would protect businesses from losing money on lawsuits. What are your thoughts on including a legal safeguard like this in the bill?
Bess: Well, I think it’s imperative. The left is going to do everything they can to keep that out of any sort of discussion, but it is imperative to have that type of a shield in place so that businesses that do try to just get their doors back open aren’t immediately swamped with lawsuits from people claiming that they contracted COVID in that establishment.
You can imagine, I mean, government guidance on COVID has been inconsistent, to say the least, since March. At first, we were told not to wear a mask, then we were told to wear masks, and then social distancing rules were sort of suggested at varying lengths.
I was at someplace the other day in which the local ordinance required 10 feet of social distancing. So it’s just been uneven and it’s been something that small businesses in particular have had a really hard time navigating.
And to put yourself in the shoes of a small business person who is simply trying to reopen their restaurant and serve food again, to be met with an onslaught of lawsuits would just be disastrous for our economy. And so, including some sort of liability protection as it relates to COVID I think is imperative for truly getting our economy back on its feet.
Allen: So, Garrett, the clock is ticking, though. We don’t have many days before Congress is set to head home for the Christmas holiday. So, … can this bill be passed and do you think it’s possible before Christmas that this actually can get passed?
Bess: Well, I do think it can get passed. You know what, there’s basically three really big pieces of legislation that are moving this week. One of which we didn’t discuss and that’s the National Defense Authorization Act. This is the authorization legislation for the entire Defense Department and budget. …
That’s a whole different discussion and I won’t get into that, but that is on the floor of the House today. And we expect it to be passed by the House and then the Senate later this week. So that’s one piece of legislation that’s moving.
December 11th, like I mentioned, is when government funding runs out. So that’s this coming Friday at midnight. We could talk about the particulars of how governments shut down and why.
Oftentimes our elected leaders choose Friday at midnight to have government expire because it basically gives them an extra Saturday and Sunday to negotiate a funding deal without the Americans really seeing the impact of a government shutdown, but we expect the House to pass a one-week continuing resolution to simply extend government funding for one more week.
So that funding should pass the House and pass the Senate, which will give them until December 18th at midnight, which, because that’s also a Friday night, will essentially give them until about December 20th to negotiate some sort of financial spending bill.
So with that as the backdrop, that is how COVID negotiations are occurring. It’s definitely possible to do this. This is a play that is well-known in Washington. The holidays distract people. The holidays also provide a means by which many times elected leaders use to basically push rank-and-file members up against their own desire to get home to their families for Christmas and New Year’s to get votes that they otherwise wouldn’t get. So this is a known playbook.
They definitely can get it done. I think it will depend upon organizations like ours to make sure that whatever passes is not disastrous or the disastrous elements are mitigated in some way.
But I think if you were to ask me here on Tuesday, December 8th, whether I think it’s likely that it would get done, I think there’s a lot of desire to get these things done, but sometimes what ends up happening in D.C. is D.C. actually puts too many things in a bill and it sort of collapses under its own weight.
I think, probably, we’ll see how the next week unfolds, but I think, probably, there’s just too many decisions, there’s too much disagreement, and that we will see some sort of several-month continuing resolution to kick government funding down the road another three months or so. And we’ll be having this debate again in the new year.
Allen: So, if I could ask you on a scale of one to 10, with one being low probability and 10 being high, how likely do you think it is that Congress is going to be able to agree and pass an aid package before the end of the year?
Bess: Yeah. Trying to put me on the top seat here. I would give it a middling chance. So I’d probably do somewhere around a four or five.
There’s a lot of energy that is designed to basically get a COVID relief bill done and attach it to an omnibus spending bill. COVID relief needs an omnibus spending bill to sort of ride on. And right now there’s a lot of disagreements in the omnibus spending bill that we didn’t discuss.
So the first step in this process would have to be getting the omnibus disagreements ironed out. That is a huge task in and of itself. And then you have to pivot to getting the COVID relief disagreements ironed out. And frankly, I think … the sort of two sides are miles apart still on their main asks. So as long as they stay entrenched on their main asks and not sort of shelve areas that they disagree on, then … I just don’t think the COVID relief bill’s talks go much further.
I think the other open-ended question about this is whether Republicans believe that this is going to be the last time that Democrats ask for more spending on COVID.
I think largely they don’t think that. And they think that all Democrats are going to do is get this round of spending at a trillion dollars and then come back next year and bash Republicans again, trying to get more money. So I think the Republicans will probably dig in a little bit here. So that’s why I gave it like a four or five on the scale.
Allen: Well, Garrett, … it concerns me a little bit how loosely I do feel like Congress throws billions and now trillions around. And we’ve just seen this year, our national debt is climbing and climbing and climbing, and of course people are struggling, businesses need relief, but does it concern you how it almost seems like we are at an accelerated rate becoming a little bit looser and looser with the national pocketbook?
Bess: Yeah. I mean, it’s astounding. This bill, if it comes together, an omnibus spending package along with a COVID spending package, this’ll be most likely depending on what the final number is, the second-most expensive bill in American history. The first one being CARES Act, which passed earlier this year.
So to your point, between CARES and then this new round of talks, if they come to maturation and actually produce a bill, between CARES, that bill, it will be most likely well north of $5 trillion of spending this year between the two of them. That will be the single biggest expenditure in U.S. history.
And so, I think we’re at a really precarious point at which a bipartisan compromise bill at $1 trillion is something that everybody sort of rallies around as a low-number piece of legislation.
$1 trillion is not small beans and to add as much debt to our national debt load this year as we already have, and potentially still are going to add in the next week or two, is just really astounding. We’re sort of accelerating down a path that we’ve been on for a long time and now we’re just sort of throwing abandon to the wind.
Allen: Yeah. Well, Garrett, it’s going to be interesting to watch over the next two weeks as all this unfolds and what happens as we head into the Christmas holiday. But really appreciate your time today and you breaking all this down for us.
Bess: Virginia, appreciate you having me on. Have a good Christmas.
Allen: You as well.


dailysignal--2020-12-09--EXCLUSIVE: Republican Study Committee Seeks Audit of State Department Funds Sent to International Or

EXCLUSIVE: Republican Study Committee Seeks Audit of State Department Funds Sent to International Organizations

The Republican Study Committee is set Wednesday to introduce a bill calling for auditing the State Department ’ s use of taxpayer dollars sent to multilateral and international organizations .
“ The U.S. lacks a comprehensive analysis of how taxpayer dollars are being used by international organizations and whether those funds are being used to advance U.S. interests , ” Rep. Jack Bergman , R-Mich. , a member of the Republican Study Committee ’ s National Security & Foreign Affairs Task Force , explained in a statement provided to The Daily Signal .
The Republican Study Committee is the largest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House .
According to Bergman , the U.S. currently does not have any comprehensive analysis of how money sent to entities such as the United Nations is being used and whether the funding is being used to further U.S. interests .
“ The U.S. gives billions of dollars to entities like the United Nations , but we have no reporting on what happens to that money or where it ultimately ends up being spent , ” said Bergman , who was elected to a third term last month .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audit of these funds to ensure better oversight of and proper implementation of taxpayer dollars , ” he said .
Auditing the State Department ’ s use of taxpayer funding of multilateral and international organizations was a policy recommendation in the committee ’ s June National Security Strategy , which stated that “ unlike what Democrats may profess , foreign assistance should not be administered as charity , but must be directly connected to the goals of U.S. foreign policy.
” Also according to that National Security Strategy , “ foreign assistance programs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 26 agencies , and more than 60 offices of the federal government being responsible for its implementation.
” The bill asks the secretary of state “ to establish a unit within the Office of the Inspector General to audit United States contributions to multilateral and international organizations.
” It also directs the secretary to create , as part of the Office of Audits of the State Department ’ s Office of the Inspector General , a ‘ ‘ Unit to Audit U.S .
Contributions to Multilateral and International Organizations.
’ ’ By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unit would be directed to submit to the secretary an audit of U.S. contributions to multilateral and international organizations during the immediately preceding fiscal year .
“ [ The Republican Study Committee ’ s ] National Security Strategy made very clear that U.S. taxpayer dollars supporting the U.N. and other international organizations should not be diverted to rogue regimes and state sponsors of terrorism , ” Rep. Mike Johnson , R-La.
, outgoing chairman of the Republican Study Committee , told The Daily Signal in a statement .

The Republican Study Committee is set Wednesday to introduce a bill calling for auditing the State Department’s use of taxpayer dollars sent to multilateral and international organizations.
“The U.S. lacks a comprehensive analysis of how taxpayer dollars are being used by international organizations and whether those funds are being used to advance U.S. interests,” Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich., a member of the Republican Study Committee’s National Security & Foreign Affairs Task Force, explained in a statement provided to The Daily Signal.
The Republican Study Committee is the largest caucus of conservative GOP lawmakers in the House.
According to Bergman, the U.S. currently does not have any comprehensive analysis of how money sent to entities such as the United Nations is being used and whether the funding is being used to further U.S. interests.
“The U.S. gives billions of dollars to entities like the United Nations, but we have no reporting on what happens to that money or where it ultimately ends up being spent,” said Bergman, who was elected to a third term last month.
“It’s time we have a transparent, independent audit of these funds to ensure better oversight of and proper implementation of taxpayer dollars,” he said.
Auditing the State Department’s use of taxpayer funding of multilateral and international organizations was a policy recommendation in the committee’s June National Security Strategy, which stated that “unlike what Democrats may profess, foreign assistance should not be administered as charity, but must be directly connected to the goals of U.S. foreign policy.”
Also according to that National Security Strategy, “foreign assistance programs are sprawling and uncoordinated with 12 departments, 26 agencies, and more than 60 offices of the federal government being responsible for its implementation.”
The bill asks the secretary of state “to establish a unit within the Office of the Inspector General to audit United States contributions to multilateral and international organizations.”
It also directs the secretary to create, as part of the Office of Audits of the State Department’s Office of the Inspector General, a ‘‘Unit to Audit U.S. Contributions to Multilateral and International Organizations.’’
By Dec. 31 of each year, that unit would be directed to submit to the secretary an audit of U.S. contributions to multilateral and international organizations during the immediately preceding fiscal year.
“[The Republican Study Committee’s] National Security Strategy made very clear that U.S. taxpayer dollars supporting the U.N. and other international organizations should not be diverted to rogue regimes and state sponsors of terrorism,” Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., outgoing chairman of the Republican Study Committee, told The Daily Signal in a statement.


dailysignal--2020-12-09--Why We Can’t Let COVID-19 Lockdowns Become a Permanent Political Power Grab

This week , as Los Angeles County announced it would lock down all outdoor dining , a video went viral .
That video featured restaurant owner Angela Marsden , proprietor of the Pineapple Hill Saloon and Grill , decrying the lockdown policy while pointing to the erection of production catering set up for a Hollywood shoot just a few feet away .
> > > What ’ s the best way for America to reopen and return to business ?
The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission , a project of The Heritage Foundation , assembled America ’ s top thinkers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has made more than 260 recommendations .
Learn more here .
“ Everything I own is being taken away from me , and they set up a movie company right next to my outdoor patio , ” Marsden said , adding that she has spent approximately $ 80,000 complying with the requirements of Los Angeles County , only to see it shut down her business completely .
There is no scientific policy justifying Los Angeles County ’ s outdoor dining shutdown .
In fact , during a Board of Supervisors meeting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Muntu Davis on the evidence to support such a ban .
Muntu provided no such evidence , likely because there is none .
But those who want to run their businesses in a safe and secure fashion are being targeted nonetheless by a political class incentivized to pursue tyranny rather than rational policy .
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti—who told police to stand down as rioters tore through his city during a pandemic—said that his “ heart goes out to Ms. Marsden ” and then added , “ No one likes these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as our hospital [ intensive care unit ] beds fill to capacity.
” He explained , “ We must stop this virus before it kills thousands of more Angelenos.
” He did not explain why , if outdoor dining was so dangerous , Hollywood is still allowed to engage in it .
That ’ s no surprise .
Throughout the pandemic , one set of rules has applied to America ’ s most ardent lockdown advocates , and another set of rules has applied to everyone else .
Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went to an outdoor restaurant later that evening .
California Gov .
Gavin Newsom is currently locking down some 33 million residents , but had no problem eating indoors with members of the California Medical Association at the French Laundry restaurant .
Mayor London Breed of San Francisco ate at that same posh restaurant the next day .
Austin , Texas , Mayor Steve Adler told his constituents to “ stay home if you can ” in a Facebook video filmed from his vacation timeshare in Cabo San Lucas , Mexico , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others after a wedding in Austin .
Mayor Lori Lightfoot of Chicago got her hair cut and called it an “ essential ” business activity while promoting lockdowns .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo told everybody to stay home for Thanksgiving and then announced he would be getting together with his daughters and his 89-year-old mother , only to then reverse himself .
The message is obvious : Our intellectual and moral betters in politics are free to make their own rational calculations on COVID-19 risk .
The rest of us are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further notice .
When these political actors suggest that we must act out of an abundance of caution , they mean that they ought to enjoy abundance while benefiting from our caution .
You and your family are capable of making the same decisions Cuomo , Garcetti , Newsom , Lightfoot , and Adler do .
You should be careful .
You should engage in social distancing , mask up when in close proximity with others , and generally avoid social gatherings involving those with preexisting conditions .
But you can do all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a free society .
Our politicians don ’ t believe that , because our politicians have seen how easily so many Americans were willing to indefinitely suspend their freedoms out of trust in our authorities .
Until the incentive structures change , our freedoms will continue to be throttled by people who have no problem exercising their own .
One need not be a COVID-19 skeptic in order to question whether the enthusiastic authoritarian streak revealed by those politicians can be curbed .
The longer we tolerate it , the more our politicians @ @ @ @ @ @

This week, as Los Angeles County announced it would lock down all outdoor dining, a video went viral.
That video featured restaurant owner Angela Marsden, proprietor of the Pineapple Hill Saloon and Grill, decrying the lockdown policy while pointing to the erection of production catering set up for a Hollywood shoot just a few feet away.
>>> What’s the best way for America to reopen and return to business? The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission, a project of The Heritage Foundation, assembled America’s top thinkers to figure that out. So far, it has made more than 260 recommendations. Learn more here.
“Everything I own is being taken away from me, and they set up a movie company right next to my outdoor patio,” Marsden said, adding that she has spent approximately $80,000 complying with the requirements of Los Angeles County, only to see it shut down her business completely.
There is no scientific policy justifying Los Angeles County’s outdoor dining shutdown. In fact, during a Board of Supervisors meeting, a community member quizzed county health officer Dr. Muntu Davis on the evidence to support such a ban.
Muntu provided no such evidence, likely because there is none.
But those who want to run their businesses in a safe and secure fashion are being targeted nonetheless by a political class incentivized to pursue tyranny rather than rational policy.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti—who told police to stand down as rioters tore through his city during a pandemic—said that his “heart goes out to Ms. Marsden” and then added, “No one likes these restrictions, but I do support them as our hospital [intensive care unit] beds fill to capacity.”
He explained, “We must stop this virus before it kills thousands of more Angelenos.” He did not explain why, if outdoor dining was so dangerous, Hollywood is still allowed to engage in it.
That’s no surprise. Throughout the pandemic, one set of rules has applied to America’s most ardent lockdown advocates, and another set of rules has applied to everyone else.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl voted to ban outdoor dining—and then went to an outdoor restaurant later that evening.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is currently locking down some 33 million residents, but had no problem eating indoors with members of the California Medical Association at the French Laundry restaurant. Mayor London Breed of San Francisco ate at that same posh restaurant the next day.
Austin, Texas, Mayor Steve Adler told his constituents to “stay home if you can” in a Facebook video filmed from his vacation timeshare in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where he’d just headed with seven others after a wedding in Austin.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot of Chicago got her hair cut and called it an “essential” business activity while promoting lockdowns. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told everybody to stay home for Thanksgiving and then announced he would be getting together with his daughters and his 89-year-old mother, only to then reverse himself.
The message is obvious: Our intellectual and moral betters in politics are free to make their own rational calculations on COVID-19 risk. The rest of us are to be locked in our homes until further notice.
When these political actors suggest that we must act out of an abundance of caution, they mean that they ought to enjoy abundance while benefiting from our caution.
You and your family are capable of making the same decisions Cuomo, Garcetti, Newsom, Lightfoot, and Adler do. You should be careful. You should engage in social distancing, mask up when in close proximity with others, and generally avoid social gatherings involving those with preexisting conditions.
But you can do all of these things and still live in a free society.
Our politicians don’t believe that, because our politicians have seen how easily so many Americans were willing to indefinitely suspend their freedoms out of trust in our authorities. Until the incentive structures change, our freedoms will continue to be throttled by people who have no problem exercising their own.
One need not be a COVID-19 skeptic in order to question whether the enthusiastic authoritarian streak revealed by those politicians can be curbed. The longer we tolerate it, the more our politicians will normalize their power grabs.
Copyright 2020 Creators.com


dailysignal--2020-12-10--Sen. Marsha Blackburn Warns of the Left’s ‘Change America’ Vision

The vow by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to “ change America ” is a threat to the future of the nation and to conservative values , Sen. Marsha Blackburn said Tuesday at The Heritage Foundation ’ s virtual President ’ s Club meeting .
The left ’ s “ version of ‘ change ’ is packing the Supreme Court and adding more justices ; giving statehood to D.C. , to Puerto Rico ; giving felons the right to vote ; [ and ] making certain that they eliminate your ability , and 153 million Americans ’ ability , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blackburn , R-Tenn .
The senator was one of a number of prominent conservative leaders—among them columnist and commentator Victor Davis Hanson and former White House press secretary Sean Spicer—to speak at the 2020 President ’ s Club event , an annual meeting of conservative activists and Heritage Foundation members .
With the partisan composition of the Senate in the 117th Congress uncertain until after Georgia ’ s two Jan. 5 runoff races , the integrity of America ’ s elections must be preserved , said Blackburn .
State leaders need to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to count , ” she said .
Amid the turbulence of the 2020 election , and as Americans decide between a “ move towards freedom ” or toward socialism , Blackburn recalled some of the success America has experienced under the leadership of a conservative Senate and President Donald Trump .
In the past four years , she said , America has strengthened trade relationships with foreign nations , improved relationships with allies , implemented tax cuts , stimulated record-breaking economic growth , and launched Operation Warp Speed to respond to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Senate Judiciary Committee , Blackburn has championed Trump ’ s judicial nominations , especially in the case of the newest Supreme Court justice , Amy Coney Barrett , and promised that even this week , the Senate will continue “ confirming more judges to the circuit courts and to the district courts.
” Regardless of partisan control of the Senate , Blackburn says she won ’ t waver in her commitment to conservative values and will continue to promote policies that strengthen and secure America ’ s future .
The U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because what they want to do is dominate globally , ” Blackburn said , adding that China has carried out unthinkable human rights abuses and has “ taken our jobs.
” “ They sent us this virus , and China needs to be held to account , ” she said .
In the area of technology , Blackburn said her focus will remain on ensuring Americans ’ privacy is protected on the internet and necessary reforms are made to Section 230 , a provision of the Communications Decency Act that shields online platforms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ users post on them .
With regard to health care , Blackburn said , she will continue the fight to make it “ accessible and more affordable.
” Blackburn ’ s commitment to promote strong conservative ideas is also the mission of her new podcast “ Freedom Rings.
” The podcast will discuss “ faith , family , freedom , hope , and opportunity , with great patriots who are seeking to advance the conservative cause and who are working to ensure every American has the opportunity to live the American dream , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the CBS affiliate in Knoxville , Tennessee .
With America standing at a historic crossroads , Blackburn ’ s “ leadership is invaluable , ” Thomas Binion , vice president of government relations at The Heritage Foundation , said during Tuesday ’ s event .
The Tennessee lawmaker is the “ rare , authentic , and truth-telling politician ” that America needs right now , Binion added .

The vow by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to “change America” is a threat to the future of the nation and to conservative values, Sen. Marsha Blackburn said Tuesday at The Heritage Foundation’s virtual President’s Club meeting.
The left’s “version of ‘change’ is packing the Supreme Court and adding more justices; giving statehood to D.C., to Puerto Rico; giving felons the right to vote; [and] making certain that they eliminate your ability, and 153 million Americans’ ability, to have private health insurance,” said Blackburn, R-Tenn.
The senator was one of a number of prominent conservative leaders—among them columnist and commentator Victor Davis Hanson and former White House press secretary Sean Spicer—to speak at the 2020 President’s Club event, an annual meeting of conservative activists and Heritage Foundation members.
With the partisan composition of the Senate in the 117th Congress uncertain until after Georgia’s two Jan. 5 runoff races, the integrity of America’s elections must be preserved, said Blackburn. State leaders need to “make certain that individuals know their vote is going to count,” she said.
Amid the turbulence of the 2020 election, and as Americans decide between a “move towards freedom” or toward socialism, Blackburn recalled some of the success America has experienced under the leadership of a conservative Senate and President Donald Trump.
In the past four years, she said, America has strengthened trade relationships with foreign nations, improved relationships with allies, implemented tax cuts, stimulated record-breaking economic growth, and launched Operation Warp Speed to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.
As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Blackburn has championed Trump’s judicial nominations, especially in the case of the newest Supreme Court justice, Amy Coney Barrett, and promised that even this week, the Senate will continue “confirming more judges to the circuit courts and to the district courts.”
Regardless of partisan control of the Senate, Blackburn says she won’t waver in her commitment to conservative values and will continue to promote policies that strengthen and secure America’s future.
The U.S. must push back “on China, because what they want to do is dominate globally,” Blackburn said, adding that China has carried out unthinkable human rights abuses and has “taken our jobs.”
“They sent us this virus, and China needs to be held to account,” she said.
In the area of technology, Blackburn said her focus will remain on ensuring Americans’ privacy is protected on the internet and necessary reforms are made to Section 230, a provision of the Communications Decency Act that shields online platforms from being held liable for the content users post on them.
With regard to health care, Blackburn said, she will continue the fight to make it “accessible and more affordable.”
Blackburn’s commitment to promote strong conservative ideas is also the mission of her new podcast “Freedom Rings.”
The podcast will discuss “faith, family, freedom, hope, and opportunity, with great patriots who are seeking to advance the conservative cause and who are working to ensure every American has the opportunity to live the American dream,” Blackburn said, according to WVLT-TV, the CBS affiliate in Knoxville, Tennessee.
With America standing at a historic crossroads, Blackburn’s “leadership is invaluable,” Thomas Binion, vice president of government relations at The Heritage Foundation, said during Tuesday’s event.
The Tennessee lawmaker is the “rare, authentic, and truth-telling politician” that America needs right now, Binion added.


dailysignal--2020-12-10--2 New Black GOP Congressmen Aim to Fight Socialism, Grow  Conservative Base

Two newly elected Republican congressmen , both of them black , say they aim to fight socialism and extend the reach of conservatives after they are sworn in on Jan. 3 .
“ I understand that we ’ re here together at this particular time in our country ’ s history for a reason .
It is so we can make sure that we , the people , can pull back our country from this evil , dark abyss of socialism , ” Rep.-elect Burgess Owens , R-Utah , a former pro football star , said Tuesday at The Heritage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Club meeting .
Rep.-elect Byron Donalds , R-Fla. , also addressed the President ’ s Club virtual event on Tuesday .
The President ’ s Club meeting , held online because of the coronavirus pandemic , featured scholars and experts from The Heritage Foundation as well as leaders in the conservative movement , including Sens .
Mike Lee , R-Utah , and Marsha Blackburn , R-Tenn. , and Rep. Jim Banks , R-Ind.
, the newly elected chairman of the House ’ s Republican Study Committee .
Owens , 69 , who played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Jets and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders from 1973 to 1982 , narrowly defeated freshman Democrat Ben McAdams .
He will now represent Utah ’ s 4th Congressional District , incorporating portions of Juab , Salt Lake , Sanpete , and Utah counties .
Owens said that conservatives are talking about socialism more than ever and must continue to educate the public on its evils .
But now we ’ re waking up , that we understand what ’ s going on .
And now we understood what a great president President [ Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopefully , could still be .
We don ’ t know .
We need to fight for it .
We can not go back to sleep again and let the left continue to do what they do so well … with lies to undermine our system and divide us .
We just can not let that continue to happen .
Donalds , 42 , whose 19th Congressional District incorporates Cape Coral , Fort Myers , Naples , and Marco Island , previously served in the Florida House of Representatives .
He said a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reach out and grow the conservative base .
“ Running for Congress was just as much … about budget reform and paying down our debt , and health care reform and entitlement reform , ” he said .
But it was also about growing the party .
In my view , you can not have a governing majority if you don ’ t have a political majority .
You can ’ t have a political majority if you ’ re not messaging … if you ’ re not going to ask for these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking conservative principles to all people .
Donalds defeated Democrat Cindy Banyai in the race to succeed retiring Rep. Francis Rooney , a fellow Republican .
Donalds said conservatives need to go where they ordinarily aren ’ t found to get their message out to those who need to hear it .
“ Whether it ’ s to the old media , whether it ’ s to the new media , not just doing Fox and Newsmax and OANN , but also doing MSNBC , doing CNN , also doing black radio shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean , really taking the message everywhere , ” he said .

Two newly elected Republican congressmen, both of them black, say they aim to fight socialism and extend the reach of conservatives after they are sworn in on Jan. 3.
“I understand that we’re here together at this particular time in our country’s history for a reason. It is so we can make sure that we, the people, can pull back our country from this evil, dark abyss of socialism,” Rep.-elect Burgess Owens, R-Utah, a former pro football star, said Tuesday at The Heritage Foundation’s annual President’s Club meeting.
Rep.-elect Byron Donalds, R-Fla., also addressed the President’s Club virtual event on Tuesday.
The President’s Club meeting, held online because of the coronavirus pandemic, featured scholars and experts from The Heritage Foundation as well as leaders in the conservative movement, including Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., the newly elected chairman of the House’s Republican Study Committee.
Owens, 69, who played safety for the NFL’s New York Jets and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders from 1973 to 1982, narrowly defeated freshman Democrat Ben McAdams. He will now represent Utah’s 4th Congressional District, incorporating portions of Juab, Salt Lake, Sanpete, and Utah counties.
Owens said that conservatives are talking about socialism more than ever and must continue to educate the public on its evils.
But now we’re waking up, that we understand what’s going on. And now we understood what a great president President [Donald] Trump was for us and, hopefully, could still be. We don’t know. We need to fight for it. We cannot go back to sleep again and let the left continue to do what they do so well … with lies to undermine our system and divide us. We just cannot let that continue to happen.
Donalds, 42, whose 19th Congressional District incorporates Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, and Marco Island, previously served in the Florida House of Representatives. He said a main goal of his will be to reach out and grow the conservative base.
“Running for Congress was just as much … about budget reform and paying down our debt, and health care reform and entitlement reform,” he said.
But it was also about growing the party. In my view, you cannot have a governing majority if you don’t have a political majority. You can’t have a political majority if you’re not messaging … if you’re not going to ask for these votes, if you’re not taking conservative principles to all people.
Donalds defeated Democrat Cindy Banyai in the race to succeed retiring Rep. Francis Rooney, a fellow Republican.
Donalds said conservatives need to go where they ordinarily aren’t found to get their message out to those who need to hear it.
“Whether it’s to the old media, whether it’s to the new media, not just doing Fox and Newsmax and OANN, but also doing MSNBC, doing CNN, also doing black radio shows like ‘The Breakfast Club.’ I mean, really taking the message everywhere,” he said.


dailysignal--2020-12-10--House Conservatives Will ‘Fight Back Against Radical Left,’ New Chairman Says

Fighting the radical left will be a top goal of the largest conservative caucus in Congress , the incoming chairman of the Republican Study Committee says .
“ Rarely do Republicans fight back , ” Rep. Jim Banks , R-Ind.
, said Tuesday night in a speech to The Heritage Foundation ’ s annual President ’ s Club meeting , held virtually because of the pandemic .
“ And that ’ s what I want to do with Republican Study Committee more than ever over the next couple of years , is to fight back against the radical left , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party … is not the Democrat Party of my dad or my grandma.
” The President ’ s Club meeting featured scholars and experts from the prominent think tank as well as leaders in the conservative movement including Sen. Mike Lee , R-Utah , and Sen. Marsha Blackburn , R-Tenn. , in addition to Banks .
Banks , elected unanimously Nov. 19 as chairman of the RSC , said the caucus will work against what he called the “ fringe , left-wing , dangerous , radical Democrat Party.
” One main priority , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ continuing the fight to hold China accountable ” on issues from national security to COVID-19 to fair trade .
“ President [ Donald ] Trump has made the Republican Party the party of holding China accountable [ and ] I promise you , the RSC will be in that fight for the two years that I ’ m the chairman , ” Banks said .
Another of the committee ’ s top priorities , Banks said , is to work to protect the Hyde Amendment , which prohibits the use of federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measure is named for the late Rep. Henry Hyde , R-Ill. , who proposed the amendment first adopted in 1976 .
The incoming chairman of the House Appropriations Committee , Rep. Rosa DeLauro , D-Conn. , has said she wants to do away with the Hyde Amendment .
“ One of the very first issues that we ’ re going to fight out of the gate is to protect the Hyde Amendment , [ which ] is no longer a bipartisan issue , ” Banks said .
He noted that two Democratic presidents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supported the Hyde Amendment—as did Joe Biden as a Democratic senator from Delaware .
Banks said the RSC also “ will be on the front lines protecting strong defense budgets , Trump-era budgets , ” and fighting as “ Democrats try to try to strip defense spending , our resources , traditional legacy issues , and fiscal responsibility and balanced budgets.
” The Republican Study Committee will lead by showing Congress and the American people how the government can spend responsibly , he said .

Fighting the radical left will be a top goal of the largest conservative caucus in Congress, the incoming chairman of the Republican Study Committee says.
“Rarely do Republicans fight back,” Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., said Tuesday night in a speech to The Heritage Foundation’s annual President’s Club meeting, held virtually because of the pandemic.
“And that’s what I want to do with Republican Study Committee more than ever over the next couple of years, is to fight back against the radical left,” Banks said. “This Democrat Party … is not the Democrat Party of my dad or my grandma.”
The President’s Club meeting featured scholars and experts from the prominent think tank as well as leaders in the conservative movement including Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., in addition to Banks.
Banks, elected unanimously Nov. 19 as chairman of the RSC, said the caucus will work against what he called the “fringe, left-wing, dangerous, radical Democrat Party.”
One main priority, the Indiana Republican said, will be “continuing the fight to hold China accountable” on issues from national security to COVID-19 to fair trade.
“President [Donald] Trump has made the Republican Party the party of holding China accountable [and] I promise you, the RSC will be in that fight for the two years that I’m the chairman,” Banks said.
Another of the committee’s top priorities, Banks said, is to work to protect the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits the use of federal funds for most elective abortions. The measure is named for the late Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., who proposed the amendment first adopted in 1976.
The incoming chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., has said she wants to do away with the Hyde Amendment.
“One of the very first issues that we’re going to fight out of the gate is to protect the Hyde Amendment, [which] is no longer a bipartisan issue,” Banks said.
He noted that two Democratic presidents, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, supported the Hyde Amendment—as did Joe Biden as a Democratic senator from Delaware.
Banks said the RSC also “will be on the front lines protecting strong defense budgets, Trump-era budgets,” and fighting as “Democrats try to try to strip defense spending, our resources, traditional legacy issues, and fiscal responsibility and balanced budgets.”
The Republican Study Committee will lead by showing Congress and the American people how the government can spend responsibly, he said.


dailysignal--2020-12-10--The COVID-19 Threat Is Real

The COVID-19 Threat Is Real

Winter is coming and , like many of you , I ’ m deeply worried about how America is going to weather these upcoming months .
You could say that many are scared to death with the specter of COVID-19 continuing to loom as the death toll reaches a stunning 284,000 souls in America alone .
What ’ s worse ?
There is no sign of COVID-19 letting up , and nearly 15 million coronavirus cases have been reported in the United States since February .
With daily infection rates increasing , our entire citizenry must embrace common sense in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 is not a hoax , and it ’ s not a partisan issue .
This virus doesn ’ t affect liberals differently than conservatives , and so-called red and blue states are equally at risk .
COVID-19 is an equal-opportunity killer , and all Americans must work together to slow its spread and protect our loved ones .
We need to set aside the blinders of partisanship and accept this reality together so that we can do everything possible for things to return to normal and to take back control of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agree on the best way to accomplish a return to normalcy , if we work together for the common good , we can beat this virus and move on .
Every American should practice social distancing , mask-wearing , and hand-washing , simple science-based measures proven to slow the spread .
> > > What ’ s the best way for America to reopen and return to business ?
The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission , a project of The Heritage Foundation , assembled America ’ s top thinkers to figure that out .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 260 recommendations .
Learn more here .
I urge everyone reading this to act before it ’ s too late .
You are not immune to COVID-19 ; none of us are .
Don ’ t wait until you lose someone you love by not accepting the reality of the pandemic and its possible life-threatening effects .
My close friend of decades , Dr. Ben Carson , and his wife , Candy , tested positive for COVID-19 in the middle of November .
A world-renowned brain surgeon , he is presently serving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Trump administration .
His family , friends , and I have been praying for the Carsons and , fortunately , they have received excellent medical care and are near recovery .
However , not everyone has been so fortunate .
This is precisely why we must take the coronavirus threat seriously and acknowledge that we are all at risk .
I was deeply disturbed to observe an interview with a South Dakota emergency room nurse .
She spoke passionately about how many of her dying patients , even as they struggled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refused to acknowledge the existence of COVID-19 or that COVID-19 was the cause of their demise .
The nurse , who is working in a state with the highest infection rate in the country , told a reporter that she has had patients who are oxygen-dependent and yet continued to deny that they were infected with COVID-19 .
“ I think the hardest thing to watch is that people are still looking for something else and a magic answer and they do not want to believe COVID is real , ” Jodi Doering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last dying words are , ‘ This can ’ t be happening .
It ’ s not real . '
” Unfortunately , after CNN broke this story without any deeper investigation , it was proven that the story was overly exaggerated , which the nurse later admitted .
These headlines whip citizens into a fear frenzy , and it ’ s unfortunate how media and front-line workers with agendas further exploit pain and suffering .
As Americans , we must pay attention and do the right thing , political affiliation aside .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of not only ourselves but our neighbors , parents , children , and friends .
Iowa ’ s Republican Gov .
Kim Reynolds , who once called mask-wearing a “ feel good ” measure , reversed her stance this week in the wake of rising infections in the state .
She signed a proclamation requiring Iowans over the age of 2 to wear masks in indoor public spaces starting Nov. 17 .
“ If Iowans don ’ t buy into this , we ’ ll lose , ” Reynolds said at a news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again , more schools will be forced to go online , and our health care system will fail.
” The facts are daunting , and hospitals across the nation are frantically searching for nurses because their staff is stretched so thin .
At least 284,000 fatalities have been reported in the United States since February .
More than 202,000 new infections were added to the tally this Monday and the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients has now topped 100,000 .
We must not deny reality or science when so much is at stake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discourse , we must come together as a nation to fight this terrible plague .
It ’ s time for our actions to reflect the words of Jesus .
By accepting personal responsibility and taking steps to combat COVID-19 , we can fulfill his teaching to love thy neighbor as thyself .

Winter is coming and, like many of you, I’m deeply worried about how America is going to weather these upcoming months. You could say that many are scared to death with the specter of COVID-19 continuing to loom as the death toll reaches a stunning 284,000 souls in America alone.
What’s worse? There is no sign of COVID-19 letting up, and nearly 15 million coronavirus cases have been reported in the United States since February.
With daily infection rates increasing, our entire citizenry must embrace common sense in this overly politicized and ever-growing pandemic: COVID-19 is not a hoax, and it’s not a partisan issue. This virus doesn’t affect liberals differently than conservatives, and so-called red and blue states are equally at risk.
COVID-19 is an equal-opportunity killer, and all Americans must work together to slow its spread and protect our loved ones. We need to set aside the blinders of partisanship and accept this reality together so that we can do everything possible for things to return to normal and to take back control of our lives.
While we may not all agree on the best way to accomplish a return to normalcy, if we work together for the common good, we can beat this virus and move on. Every American should practice social distancing, mask-wearing, and hand-washing, simple science-based measures proven to slow the spread.
>>> What’s the best way for America to reopen and return to business? The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission, a project of The Heritage Foundation, assembled America’s top thinkers to figure that out. So far, it has made more than 260 recommendations. Learn more here.
I urge everyone reading this to act before it’s too late. You are not immune to COVID-19; none of us are. Don’t wait until you lose someone you love by not accepting the reality of the pandemic and its possible life-threatening effects.
My close friend of decades, Dr. Ben Carson, and his wife, Candy, tested positive for COVID-19 in the middle of November. A world-renowned brain surgeon, he is presently serving as secretary of housing and urban development for the Trump administration. His family, friends, and I have been praying for the Carsons and, fortunately, they have received excellent medical care and are near recovery.
However, not everyone has been so fortunate. This is precisely why we must take the coronavirus threat seriously and acknowledge that we are all at risk.
I was deeply disturbed to observe an interview with a South Dakota emergency room nurse. She spoke passionately about how many of her dying patients, even as they struggled to take their final breaths, simply refused to acknowledge the existence of COVID-19 or that COVID-19 was the cause of their demise.
The nurse, who is working in a state with the highest infection rate in the country, told a reporter that she has had patients who are oxygen-dependent and yet continued to deny that they were infected with COVID-19.
“I think the hardest thing to watch is that people are still looking for something else and a magic answer and they do not want to believe COVID is real,” Jodi Doering said in the interview. “Their last dying words are, ‘This can’t be happening. It’s not real.'”
Unfortunately, after CNN broke this story without any deeper investigation, it was proven that the story was overly exaggerated, which the nurse later admitted. These headlines whip citizens into a fear frenzy, and it’s unfortunate how media and front-line workers with agendas further exploit pain and suffering.
As Americans, we must pay attention and do the right thing, political affiliation aside. We are talking about public health—the health of not only ourselves but our neighbors, parents, children, and friends.
Iowa’s Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who once called mask-wearing a “feel good” measure, reversed her stance this week in the wake of rising infections in the state. She signed a proclamation requiring Iowans over the age of 2 to wear masks in indoor public spaces starting Nov. 17.
“If Iowans don’t buy into this, we’ll lose,” Reynolds said at a news conference. “Businesses will close once again, more schools will be forced to go online, and our health care system will fail.” The facts are daunting, and hospitals across the nation are frantically searching for nurses because their staff is stretched so thin.
At least 284,000 fatalities have been reported in the United States since February. More than 202,000 new infections were added to the tally this Monday and the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients has now topped 100,000. We must not deny reality or science when so much is at stake. In an age of poisoned partisan discourse, we must come together as a nation to fight this terrible plague.
It’s time for our actions to reflect the words of Jesus. By accepting personal responsibility and taking steps to combat COVID-19, we can fulfill his teaching to love thy neighbor as thyself.
COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM


dailysignal--2020-12-11--Grassley Hammers ‘Liberal Media’ for Ignoring Hunter Biden Investigation

Sen. Chuck Grassley , R-Iowa , blasted Democrats and the “ liberal media ” in a speech on the Senate floor on Thursday , saying that both groups ignored his committee ’ s report regarding Hunter Biden ’ s suspicious business dealings , aspects of which were seemingly validated Wednesday when the president-elect ’ s son confirmed that he is under federal investigation .
“ We showed our work and made our findings public , but the liberal media and Democrats chose to dismiss it .
They even falsely claimed our work was Russian disinformation in order to protect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech .
He was referring to an investigation conducted by the Senate Finance and Senate Homeland Security committees into Hunter Biden ’ s business activities in Ukraine and China .
On Wednesday , Hunter Biden released a statement through his father ’ s presidential transition team saying that he was notified this week that he is the target of an investigation led by the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office in Delaware .
Biden said that his “ tax affairs ” are under investigation .
A source familiar with the probe told The Daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 , well before Joe Biden started his presidential campaign and before the Senate investigations of Hunter Biden .
Grassley , who chairs the Finance Committee , and Sen. Ron Johnson , R-Wis. , chairman of the homeland security panel , released a report Sept. 23 that showed Biden received millions of dollars in wire transfers from foreign companies that U.S. authorities flagged for possible criminal activity .
The report showed that Biden and his business partners used a complex system of holding companies , shell companies , and law firms for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China , as well as with a Russian billionaire named Elena Baturina .
Republicans said their findings raised “ criminal financial , counterintelligence , and extortion concerns ” regarding Biden ’ s business dealings .
The report received little media attention beyond coverage in conservative outlets .
Politico ran a story about the report with the headline , “ GOP senators ’ anti-Biden report repackages old claims.
” “ Ron Johnson and Chuck Grassley ’ s interim report largely relies on previously known information , ” the subheadline of the story reads .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ another development in the Hunter Biden saga .
Outlets such as CNN and NPR made editorial decisions not to cover aspects of a story first reported by the New York Post on Oct. 14 regarding emails from a laptop that purportedly belonged to Biden .
NPR announced Oct. 22 that it would not report about Biden ’ s laptop , saying that the organization did not “ want to waste the listeners ’ and readers ’ time on stories that are just pure distractions.
” CNN ’ s political director , David Chailian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held the day of the Post report that the network would not be covering the Biden laptop story .
“ Obviously , we ’ re not going with the New York Post story right now on Hunter Biden , ” Chalian said during the conference call , which was recorded by the activist group Project Veritas .
Grassley and Johnson did not rely on information from the Biden laptop for their investigation , but many of the emails on the computer involved many of the business activities discussed in the Senate report .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier this year of promoting Russian disinformation about Hunter Biden ’ s business activities in order to undermine his father ’ s political campaign .
“ Those same liberal outlets that disparaged our investigation now report that Hunter Biden ’ s financial deals in China raised counterintelligence concerns , ” Grassley said .
CNN reported Wednesday that the Justice Department is scrutinizing Hunter Biden ’ s taxes and investigating him for possible money laundering related to business deals with Chinese companies .
One area of focus is Biden ’ s partnership with CEFC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose chairman had ties to the People ’ s Liberation Army .
CEFC wired $ 5 million to a firm linked to Hunter Biden beginning in August 2017 .
According to Grassley and Johnson ’ s report , U.S. regulators flagged some of the wire payments for possible criminal activity .
CEFC also paid the younger Biden $ 1 million for legal services for Patrick Ho , an executive at CEFC who was convicted in the U.S. for bribing African politicians to win mining contracts .
“ It ’ s outrageous that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when they are uncovered by Republicans , ” Grassley said .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities for this original content , email [ email protected ] .

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, blasted Democrats and the “liberal media” in a speech on the Senate floor on Thursday, saying that both groups ignored his committee’s report regarding Hunter Biden’s suspicious business dealings, aspects of which were seemingly validated Wednesday when the president-elect’s son confirmed that he is under federal investigation.
“We showed our work and made our findings public, but the liberal media and Democrats chose to dismiss it. They even falsely claimed our work was Russian disinformation in order to protect the Bidens,” Grassley said in his speech.
He was referring to an investigation conducted by the Senate Finance and Senate Homeland Security committees into Hunter Biden’s business activities in Ukraine and China.
On Wednesday, Hunter Biden released a statement through his father’s presidential transition team saying that he was notified this week that he is the target of an investigation led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Delaware. Biden said that his “tax affairs” are under investigation.
A source familiar with the probe told The Daily Caller News Foundation that the investigation began in 2018, well before Joe Biden started his presidential campaign and before the Senate investigations of Hunter Biden.
Grassley, who chairs the Finance Committee, and Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., chairman of the homeland security panel, released a report Sept. 23 that showed Biden received millions of dollars in wire transfers from foreign companies that U.S. authorities flagged for possible criminal activity.
The report showed that Biden and his business partners used a complex system of holding companies, shell companies, and law firms for consulting deals with companies in Ukraine and China, as well as with a Russian billionaire named Elena Baturina.
Republicans said their findings raised “criminal financial, counterintelligence, and extortion concerns” regarding Biden’s business dealings.
The report received little media attention beyond coverage in conservative outlets.
Politico ran a story about the report with the headline, “GOP senators’ anti-Biden report repackages old claims.”
“Ron Johnson and Chuck Grassley’s interim report largely relies on previously known information,” the subheadline of the story reads.
Most major media outlets censored coverage of another development in the Hunter Biden saga. Outlets such as CNN and NPR made editorial decisions not to cover aspects of a story first reported by the New York Post on Oct. 14 regarding emails from a laptop that purportedly belonged to Biden.
NPR announced Oct. 22 that it would not report about Biden’s laptop, saying that the organization did not “want to waste the listeners’ and readers’ time on stories that are just pure distractions.”
CNN’s political director, David Chailian, told employees during a conference call held the day of the Post report that the network would not be covering the Biden laptop story.
“Obviously, we’re not going with the New York Post story right now on Hunter Biden,” Chalian said during the conference call, which was recorded by the activist group Project Veritas.
Grassley and Johnson did not rely on information from the Biden laptop for their investigation, but many of the emails on the computer involved many of the business activities discussed in the Senate report.
Prominent Democrats also accused Grassley and Johnson earlier this year of promoting Russian disinformation about Hunter Biden’s business activities in order to undermine his father’s political campaign.
“Those same liberal outlets that disparaged our investigation now report that Hunter Biden’s financial deals in China raised counterintelligence concerns,” Grassley said.
CNN reported Wednesday that the Justice Department is scrutinizing Hunter Biden’s taxes and investigating him for possible money laundering related to business deals with Chinese companies.
One area of focus is Biden’s partnership with CEFC China Energy, a major energy conglomerate whose chairman had ties to the People’s Liberation Army.
CEFC wired $5 million to a firm linked to Hunter Biden beginning in August 2017. According to Grassley and Johnson’s report, U.S. regulators flagged some of the wire payments for possible criminal activity.
CEFC also paid the younger Biden $1 million for legal services for Patrick Ho, an executive at CEFC who was convicted in the U.S. for bribing African politicians to win mining contracts.
“It’s outrageous that the Fourth Estate would choose to ignore facts when they are uncovered by Republicans,” Grassley said.
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities for this original content, email licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.