washingtontimes--2020-12-21--House passes COVID relief bill

House passes COVID relief bill

Democrats and Republicans linked arms Monday and rushed to pass a new round of coronavirus relief , saying they were delivering a measure of hope to families grimly confronting the holidays and new year amid a new round of shutdowns .
The bill , which also included full funding for all other government operations in 2021 , cleared the House late Monday evening in two separate votes and now the entire package heads to the Senate , where lawmakers hope to pass it quickly though it will be a night of late votes .
“ We ’ re going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” vowed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , Kentucky Republican .
The deal he wrote along with the other three top party leaders on Capitol Hill ends an eight-month logjam , during which the virus went through two more surges , U.S. deaths attributed to COVID-19 topped 300,000 and the unemployment picture began to worsen again .
The breakthrough came earlier this month when a group of centrist Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate announced that they had worked out a $ 900 billion deal , forcing those on their right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ table .
Monday ’ s relief package tracked closely to the size of the centrists ’ proposal , though many of the details were rewritten and big sticking points , such as aid to local governments and liability protections for businesses reopening amid the pandemic , were put off for future negotiations .
“ Our consensus bill was the foundation of this final package and we applaud Congressional leadership for finishing what we started , ” the centrists said in a statement Sunday , as the leaders ’ deal was announced .
Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only that assistance was on the way for the virus , but also that next year could usher in more bipartisan deal-making .
President-elect Joseph R. Biden has called this bill a down payment and said he will come back to Congress to ask for more next year .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , California Democrat , said tops on that list will be the state and local funding she was forced to drop from this bill .
“ While we have recognized the urgent need for resources to crush the virus so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safely , we must also recognize that more needs to be done , ” she said in a letter to her Democratic House colleagues .
Asked whether he would come back for another bite at the apple , Mr. McConnell told reporters , “ We ’ ll see next year.
” He said this bill could have been done months ago but for Mrs. Pelosi ’ s insistence throughout the summer and fall for at least $ 2 trillion in spending .
“ But a few days ago , with a new president-elect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Democrats suddenly came around to our position that we should find consensus , make law where we agree and get urgent help out the door , ” Mr. McConnell said .
Lawmakers were left struggling to digest the massive bill , which spanned 5,593 pages and $ 2.3 trillion in total spending when the 2021 government operations legislation is combined with the virus relief package .
A computer glitch delayed the release of the bill text until about 2 p.m. , and the first procedural votes on the package occurred in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s not good enough to hear about what ’ s in the bill .
Members of Congress need to see and read the bills we are expected to vote on , ” Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , New York Democrat , tweeted .
“ I know it ’ s ‘ controversial ’ and I get in trouble for sharing things like this , but the people of this country deserve to know .
They deserve better.
” The final deal includes another round of stimulus checks , though at $ 600 — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went out last spring .
But officials said the money could reach Americans ’ hands faster .
“ People are going to see this money [ at ] the beginning of next week , ” Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin said during an interview with CNBC on Monday morning .
“ Much-needed relief — and just in time for the holidays.
” Adults making $ 75,000 or less will qualify for the full $ 600 payment , with higher earners getting tapered amounts and payments capped for those making more than $ 99,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 600 per child .
Illegal immigrants will not be eligible , but the bill will alter a provision from last spring that denied some U.S. citizens benefits because they are married to a noncitizen who lacks a Social Security number .
The deal also has roughly $ 284 billion for another round of Paycheck Protection Program loans , $ 25 billion in rental assistance , an extension of the eviction moratorium , and $ 82 billion for schools and colleges grappling with reopening and distance learning .
Another round of federal unemployment benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and running through early March .
The checks , which are in addition to state assistance , will total $ 300 per week — half the $ 600-a-week benefits that were part of the relief package last spring .
Both parties celebrated the billions of dollars being pumped into vaccine distribution , testing and contact tracing .

Democrats and Republicans linked arms Monday and rushed to pass a new round of coronavirus relief, saying they were delivering a measure of hope to families grimly confronting the holidays and new year amid a new round of shutdowns.
The bill, which also included full funding for all other government operations in 2021, cleared both chambers with strong bipartisan support late Monday night. It now needs to be signed into law by President Trump.
The package passed with less than 20 minutes to spare before the midnight deadline, but Congress also passed a weeklong funding measure to give the deal time to be formally processed, giving them a bit more breathing room.
The deal made by top party leaders on Capitol Hill ends an eight-month logjam, during which the virus went through two new surges, U.S. deaths attributed to COVID-19 topped 300,000, and the jobs picture began to slump again.
The breakthrough came earlier this month when a group of centrist Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate announced that they had worked out a $900 billion deal, forcing those on their right and left to come back to the table.
Monday’s relief package tracked closely to the size of the centrists’ proposal, though many of the details were rewritten and big sticking points, such as aid to local governments and liability protections for businesses reopening amid the pandemic, were put off for future negotiations.
“Our consensus bill was the foundation of this final package and we applaud Congressional leadership for finishing what we started,” the centrists said in a statement Sunday, as the leaders’ deal was announced.
Monday’s bipartisan votes offered hope not only that assistance was on the way for the virus, but also that next year could usher in more bipartisan deal-making.
President-elect Joseph R. Biden has called this bill a down payment and said he will come back to Congress to ask for more next year. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, said tops on that list will be the state and local funding she was forced to drop from this bill.
“While we have recognized the urgent need for resources to crush the virus so we can open our economy and schools safely, we must also recognize that more needs to be done,” she said in a letter to her Democratic House colleagues.
Asked if he would come back for another bite at the apple, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters “We’ll see next year.”
The Kentucky Republican said this bill could have been done months ago, but for Mrs. Pelosi’s insistence throughout the summer and fall for more at least $2 trillion in spending.
“But a few days ago, with a new president-elect of their own party, everything changed. Democrats suddenly came around to our position that we should find consensus, make law where we agree and get urgent help out the door,” Mr. McConnell said.
Lawmakers were left struggling to digest the massive bill, which spanned 5,593 pages and $2.3 trillion in total spending when the 2021 government operations legislation is combined with the virus relief package.
A computer glitch delayed the release of the bill text until about 2 p.m., and the first procedural votes on the package occurred in the House a little after 5 p.m.
“It’s not good enough to hear about what’s in the bill. Members of Congress need to see and read the bills we are expected to vote on,” Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York Democrat, tweeted. “I know it’s ‘controversial’ and I get in trouble for sharing things like this, but the people of this country deserve to know. They deserve better.”
The final deal includes another round of stimulus checks, though at $600 — half the amount of the checks that went out last spring. But officials said the money could reach Americans’ hands faster.
“People are going to see this money [at] the beginning of next week,” Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin said during an interview with CNBC on Monday morning. “Much-needed relief — and just in time for the holidays.”
Adults making $75,000 or less will qualify for the full $600 payment, with higher earners getting tapered amounts and payments capped for those making more than $99,000. Families will receive an additional $600 per child.
Illegal immigrants will not be eligible, but the bill will alter a provision from last spring that denied some U.S. citizens benefits because they are married to a noncitizen who lacks a Social Security number.
The deal also has roughly $284 billion for another round of Paycheck Protection Program loans, $25 billion in rental assistance, an extension of the eviction moratorium, and $82 billion for schools and colleges grappling with reopening and distance learning.
Another round of federal unemployment benefits is also included, beginning Dec. 27 and running through early March. The checks, which are in addition to state assistance, will total $300 per week — half the $600-a-week benefits that were part of the relief package last spring.
Both parties celebrated the billions of dollars being pumped into vaccine distribution, testing and contact tracing.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-21--Urging mask use, Tennessee gov says mandate 'controversial'

NASHVILLE , Tenn. ( AP ) - Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee said Monday he delivered a weekend address on the pandemic to “ cut through the politics ” and implore those who shun masks to wear them without him imposing a “ controversial ” state requirement , bidding to end the nation ’ s worst new COVID-19 infection surge per capita .
The Republican ’ s address on Sunday came from quarantine , the day after Lee revealed that his wife Maria had tested positive for the new coronavirus .
Lee said his wife had mild symptoms and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s tested negative and has no symptoms .
Lee ‘ s continued resistance to a statewide mask requirement - in place in all but a dozen states - drew intensified backlash from some prominent medical community voices .
Critics have said they hoped the grave scenario would produce an about-face during what could be a make-or-break holiday season .
Instead , the governor announced in his prime time address Sunday that he was limiting indoor public gatherings to less than 10 people , exempting places of worship , weddings and funerals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same place if they ’ re six feet apart from others .
“ The reason statewide mask mandates , I believe , are not helpful is because they ’ re controversial , ” Lee said in a video conference Monday .
“ We know that they are .
My message last night was to those people that don ’ t wear a mask .
Everyone that wants a mask mandate is already wearing a mask .
We know that .
We all know that those who don ’ t wear masks , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea of a mandate.
” State Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey has warned that coupling the Thanksgiving surge with another would “ completely break our hospitals.
” Lee pleaded Sunday with people to wear masks and not gather with other households .
According to Johns Hopkins researchers , Tennessee saw 1,759 new cases reported per 100,000 people over the past two weeks , first nationally for new cases per capita .
One in every 104 people in Tennessee tested positive in the past week .
The seven-day rolling average of daily deaths in Tennessee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 87 on Sunday .
Lee is letting county officials decide whether to require masks , saying he ’ s encouraged mayors to do so .
About 69 % of Tennesseans - but fewer than 30 of 95 counties - now face a mask requirement , according to data from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine ’ s health policy department .
Vanderbilt researchers also have found higher rates of COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations in the areas that didn ’ t require masks .
Doctors in a Tennessee physicians group that has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months say their facilities and staffs are now more overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients than ever during the pandemic .
Those echoing the call include the White House , former GOP U.S. Senate Majority Leader and surgeon Bill Frist of Tennessee and state Democrats .
The divide has become increasingly tense .
Democratic Rep. London Lamar said Tennessee is “ setting a world example of how to kill people during a pandemic ” by not requiring masks and other measures .
Dr. Jason Martin of a physician ’ s group said Lee has “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you were elected to serve , ” and has rebutted Lee ‘ s contention that there ’ s argument and dissention about “ what ’ s the right tactic ” among health professionals .
The president of the Tennessee Medical Association , Dr. Kevin Smith , said his group hasn ’ t heard of any of its 9,000 physician members who oppose mask requirements .
The association is calling for mask mandates in counties that top 10 new cases per 100,000 people a day - currently , the whole state , since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last week , Smith said .
Meanwhile , Lee drew praise from some Republican leaders who oppose new sweeping government restrictions .
“ Our country was conceived in liberty ; I applaud the governor ’ s continued stand for individual freedoms and against “ Big Brother ” government solutions , ” House Speaker Cameron Sexton said Friday .
“ I believe in Tennessee and its citizens , and I know we will all take the appropriate measures to protect ourselves , our families , and our neighbors.
” As of Monday morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been vaccinated with their first dose , with 200,000 vaccinations expected in Tennessee by the end of year , said Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey .
Piercey said Tennessee ’ s reserve vaccines - about 975 from Pfizer-BioNTech and 5,000 from Moderna - will now be going into people ’ s arms , since the two vaccines ordered arrived intact .
An Associated Press review of each state ’ s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plans shows Tennessee alone has specified it will hold back a small portion in “ case of spoilage of vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state estimates receiving upwards of 67,000 doses of the Pfizer shot for hospital workers .
Tennessee has begun receiving a round of 115,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine , with priority for workers at smaller hospitals , first responders , long-term care facility residents and staff , home health providers and student health providers , she said .
The state is also getting an “ unexpected ” shipment of 40,000 more Pfizer doses this week , Piercey said .
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https @ @ @

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said Monday he delivered a weekend address on the pandemic to “cut through the politics” and implore those who shun masks to wear them without him imposing a “controversial” state requirement, bidding to end the nation’s worst new COVID-19 infection surge per capita.
The Republican’s address on Sunday came from quarantine, the day after Lee revealed that his wife Maria had tested positive for the new coronavirus. Lee said his wife had mild symptoms and was feeling much better Monday. He said he’s tested negative and has no symptoms.
Lee’s continued resistance to a statewide mask requirement - in place in all but a dozen states - drew intensified backlash from some prominent medical community voices. Critics have said they hoped the grave scenario would produce an about-face during what could be a make-or-break holiday season.
Instead, the governor announced in his prime time address Sunday that he was limiting indoor public gatherings to less than 10 people, exempting places of worship, weddings and funerals, and allowing smaller groups within the same place if they’re six feet apart from others.
“The reason statewide mask mandates, I believe, are not helpful is because they’re controversial,” Lee said in a video conference Monday. “We know that they are. My message last night was to those people that don’t wear a mask. Everyone that wants a mask mandate is already wearing a mask. We know that. We all know that those who don’t wear masks, many of those people actually rebel against the idea of a mandate.”
State Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey has warned that coupling the Thanksgiving surge with another would “completely break our hospitals.” Lee pleaded Sunday with people to wear masks and not gather with other households.
According to Johns Hopkins researchers, Tennessee saw 1,759 new cases reported per 100,000 people over the past two weeks, first nationally for new cases per capita. One in every 104 people in Tennessee tested positive in the past week. The seven-day rolling average of daily deaths in Tennessee has grown from 55 on Dec. 6 to 87 on Sunday.
Lee is letting county officials decide whether to require masks, saying he’s encouraged mayors to do so. About 69% of Tennesseans - but fewer than 30 of 95 counties - now face a mask requirement, according to data from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine’s health policy department.
Vanderbilt researchers also have found higher rates of COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations in the areas that didn’t require masks. Doctors in a Tennessee physicians group that has been calling for the statewide mask requirement for months say their facilities and staffs are now more overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients than ever during the pandemic. Those echoing the call include the White House, former GOP U.S. Senate Majority Leader and surgeon Bill Frist of Tennessee and state Democrats.
The divide has become increasingly tense.
Democratic Rep. London Lamar said Tennessee is “setting a world example of how to kill people during a pandemic” by not requiring masks and other measures. Dr. Jason Martin of a physician’s group said Lee has “betrayed your oath and abandoned the people you were elected to serve,” and has rebutted Lee’s contention that there’s argument and dissention about “what’s the right tactic” among health professionals.
The president of the Tennessee Medical Association, Dr. Kevin Smith, said his group hasn’t heard from any of its 9,000-plus physician members who oppose mask requirements now. The association is calling for mask mandates in counties that top 10 new cases per 100,000 people a day - currently, the whole state, since the best county was eight times worse in the last week, Smith said.
Meanwhile, Lee drew praise from some Republican leaders who oppose new sweeping government restrictions.
“Our country was conceived in liberty; I applaud the governor’s continued stand for individual freedoms and against ‘Big Brother’ government solutions,” House Speaker Cameron Sexton said Friday. “I believe in Tennessee and its citizens, and I know we will all take the appropriate measures to protect ourselves, our families, and our neighbors.”
As of Monday morning, 16,500 hospital workers in the state had been vaccinated with their first dose, with 200,000 vaccinations expected in Tennessee by the end of year, said Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey.
Piercey said Tennessee’s reserve vaccines - about 975 from Pfizer-BioNTech and 5,000 from Moderna - will now be going into people’s arms, since the two vaccines ordered arrived intact. An Associated Press review of each state’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plans shows Tennessee alone has specified it will hold back a small portion in “case of spoilage of vaccine shipped to facilities.”
So far, the state estimates receiving upwards of 67,000 doses of the Pfizer shot for hospital workers.
Tennessee has begun receiving a round of 115,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine, with priority for workers at smaller hospitals, first responders, long-term care facility residents and staff, home health providers and student health providers, she said.
The state is also getting an “unexpected” shipment of 40,000 more Pfizer doses this week, Piercey said.
___
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


washingtontimes--2020-12-21--New Orleans sets policy after tear gas is used on protesters

NEW ORLEANS ( AP ) - The New Orleans Police Department has set a new policy saying that tear gas and other specialized weapons should only be used as a last resort when life is in danger , the department ’ s leader said Monday .
The change was made after an internal investigation found “ failures ” occurred June 3 when New Orleans officers used tear gas and shot foam pellets and rubber balls at hundreds of people on the approach to the Crescent City Connection bridge , Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said .
People were protesting the killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the custody of Minneapolis police .
“ What started as a peaceful demonstration quickly escalated into civil unrest prompted by a few instigators encouraging the crowd to cross the bridge , ” Ferguson said a letter released Monday .
“ In response to some protesters ’ acts of violence , our officers deployed tear gas , foam impact rounds and stinger rubber balls to address those disrupting protesters .
Unfortunately , impacts were suffered by several peaceful protesters and several of our officers.
” Protests sparked by the death of Floyd were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Orleans and were largely peaceful .
The issue of police abuses has long resounded in New Orleans .
The deaths of unarmed civilians at the hands of police after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 led to federal investigations and court-ordered reforms .
Ferguson wrote Monday that the police department did not have a policy to guide officers ’ response to the protests June 3 .
“ There was a lack of planning and tactical decision-making , which resulted in an unprecedented incident that had never occurred in the city of New Orleans , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Council days after the confrontation that 100 to 200 protesters tried to force their way through a roadblock on the bridge .
Council members at the time pushed back against Ferguson ’ s insistence that tear gas was appropriately used .
Ferguson said Monday that some officers have undergone training to respond to protests and civil unrest .

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The New Orleans Police Department has set a new policy saying that tear gas and other specialized weapons should only be used as a last resort when life is in danger, the department’s leader said Monday.
The change was made after an internal investigation found “failures” occurred June 3 when New Orleans officers used tear gas and shot foam pellets and rubber balls at hundreds of people on the approach to the Crescent City Connection bridge, Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said. People were protesting the killing of George Floyd, a Black man in the custody of Minneapolis police.
“What started as a peaceful demonstration quickly escalated into civil unrest prompted by a few instigators encouraging the crowd to cross the bridge,” Ferguson said a letter released Monday. “In response to some protesters’ acts of violence, our officers deployed tear gas, foam impact rounds and stinger rubber balls to address those disrupting protesters. Unfortunately, impacts were suffered by several peaceful protesters and several of our officers.”
Protests sparked by the death of Floyd were held in May and June in New Orleans and were largely peaceful. The issue of police abuses has long resounded in New Orleans. The deaths of unarmed civilians at the hands of police after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 led to federal investigations and court-ordered reforms.
Ferguson wrote Monday that the police department did not have a policy to guide officers’ response to the protests June 3.
“There was a lack of planning and tactical decision-making, which resulted in an unprecedented incident that had never occurred in the city of New Orleans,” he wrote.
Ferguson told the City Council days after the confrontation that 100 to 200 protesters tried to force their way through a roadblock on the bridge. Council members at the time pushed back against Ferguson’s insistence that tear gas was appropriately used.
Ferguson said Monday that some officers have undergone training to respond to protests and civil unrest.


washingtontimes--2020-12-21--AOC angers Ilhan Omar, Rand Paul by getting vaccine early

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was outraged Monday when Sen. Rand Paul told her she should have waited her turn for the novel coronavirus vaccine , even though Rep. Ilhan Omar said essentially the same thing .
The Democrat Omar put her fellow “ squad ” member in an awkward position Sunday by scolding political leaders for being vaccinated ahead of “ frontline workers , ” two days after Ms. Ocasio-Cortez posted live video on Instagram showing her getting the shot .
“ We are not more important then frontline workers , teachers etc .
who are making sacrifices everyday , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why I won ’ t take it .
People who need it most , should get it .
Full stop.
” There was no public response from Ms. Ocasio-Cortez , New York Democrat , who said on Instagram she wanted to ease concerns about the vaccine and set an example .
“ I would would [ sic ] never , ever ask you to do something I wasn ’ t willing to do myself , ” she said .
“ Yesterday , in accordance with national security protocols , Congress began to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Then Mr. Paul , a physician who contracted the virus in May , said that young and healthy individuals like the New York Democrat should be among those vaccinated last .
“ I was asked about getting vaccinated with others in Congress : It is inappropriate for me - who has already gotten the virus/has immunity - to get in front of elderly/healthcare workers , ” tweeted Mr. Paul .
“ Same goes for AOC or any young healthy person .
They should be among last , not first.
” Ms. Ocasio-Cortez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she wanted to avoid having the vaccine politicized and blasted Republican “ misinfo.
” “ Gee , maybe if the GOP hadn ’ t spent so much time undermining public faith in science , masks , & COVID itself , I wouldn ’ t have to weigh the potential misinfo consequences of what wld happen if leaders urged ppl to take a new vaccine that we weren ’ t taking ourselves !
” Ms. Ocasio-Cortez tweeted .
Both President-elect Joseph R. Biden and Vice President Mike Pence have been vaccinated in public , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 31-year-old progressive standard-bearer .

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was outraged Monday when Sen. Rand Paul told her she should have waited her turn for the novel coronavirus vaccine, even though Rep. Ilhan Omar said essentially the same thing.
The Democrat Omar put her fellow “squad” member in an awkward position Sunday by scolding political leaders for being vaccinated ahead of “frontline workers,” two days after Ms. Ocasio-Cortez posted live video on Instagram showing her getting the shot.
“We are not more important then frontline workers, teachers etc. who are making sacrifices everyday,” Ms. Omar tweeted. “Which is why I won’t take it. People who need it most, should get it. Full stop.”
There was no public response from Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, New York Democrat, who said on Instagram she wanted to ease concerns about the vaccine and set an example.
“I would would [sic] never, ever ask you to do something I wasn’t willing to do myself,” she said. “Yesterday, in accordance with national security protocols, Congress began to get vaccinated. I documented the entire process.”
It would makes sense if it was age, but unfortunately it’s of importance and its shameful.
We are not more important then frontline workers, teachers etc. who are making sacrifices everyday.
Which is why I won’t take it.
People who need it most, should get it.
Full stop. https://t.co/JQgMftm5wX — Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) December 20, 2020
Then Mr. Paul, a physician who contracted the virus in May, said that young and healthy individuals like the New York Democrat should be among those vaccinated last.
“I was asked about getting vaccinated with others in Congress: It is inappropriate for me - who has already gotten the virus/has immunity - to get in front of elderly/healthcare workers,” tweeted Mr. Paul.
“Same goes for AOC or any young healthy person. They should be among last, not first.”
Ms. Ocasio-Cortez unloaded on the Kentucky Republican, saying she wanted to avoid having the vaccine politicized and blasted Republican “misinfo.”
“Gee, maybe if the GOP hadn’t spent so much time undermining public faith in science, masks, & COVID itself, I wouldn’t have to weigh the potential misinfo consequences of what wld happen if leaders urged ppl to take a new vaccine that we weren’t taking ourselves!” Ms. Ocasio-Cortez tweeted.
Both President-elect Joseph R. Biden and Vice President Mike Pence have been vaccinated in public, although both are significantly older than the 31-year-old progressive standard-bearer.
Gee, maybe if the GOP hadn’t spent so much time undermining public faith in science, masks,& COVID itself, I wouldn’t have to weigh the potential misinfo consequences of what wld happen if leaders urged ppl to take a new vaccine that we weren’t taking ourselves!
& @ me next time https://t.co/roMnvkyvoT — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 21, 2020
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-21--Brandon Hasbrouck, Washington and Lee University law professor: Black votes should count double

A law professor in Virginia is advocating that , for voting purposes , Black people should count as ten-fifths of a person .
Brandon Hasbrouck , an assistant professor at Washington and Lee University law school , argued in a column for the leftist magazine The Nation last week that Black votes should legally and officially be counted twice , as a form of reparations for slavery , Jim Crow and what he called the “ devaluation of Black votes.
” His argument is effectively that the Electoral College is “ by design ” a racist system to serves the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted that Blacks overwhelmingly voted for President-elect Joe Biden in such major cities as Milwaukee , Philadelphia and Atlanta , yet the Democrat barely eked out a win in Wisconsin , Pennsylvania and Georgia .
The remedy to this “ devaluation of Black votes , ” he says , is to count Black votes twice .
“ Because white votes currently count more than Black ones , double-counting Black votes would restore electoral balance .
Vote reparations would be a giant step toward remedying our nation ’ s long history of denying and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He also stated that the logic wouldn ’ t be limited to Blacks .
At the end of a paragraph about injustices committed against American Indians , he wrote “ we should include in vote reparations others who have suffered similar disenfranchisement.
” The university itself also pushed the column , writing a short blurb about it on its official website .
“ Why stop at 2-1 ?
Why not 10-1 ?
I mean that One Person , One Vote thing was just so much instrumentalist hogwash , amirite ?
” wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mock and Daisy , the self-styled “ Chicks on the Right ” : “ Gee , do you see any problems with this ?
Do you think this would sow even more racial division ?
This may have a little problem of equal protection under the law too .
”

A law professor in Virginia is advocating that, for voting purposes, Black people should count as ten-fifths of a person.
Brandon Hasbrouck, an assistant professor at Washington and Lee University law school, argued in a column for the leftist magazine The Nation last week that Black votes should legally and officially be counted twice, as a form of reparations for slavery, Jim Crow and what he called the “devaluation of Black votes.”
His argument is effectively that the Electoral College is “by design” a racist system to serves the interest of slave states. He also noted that Blacks overwhelmingly voted for President-elect Joe Biden in such major cities as Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Atlanta, yet the Democrat barely eked out a win in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Georgia.
The remedy to this “devaluation of Black votes,” he says, is to count Black votes twice.
“Because white votes currently count more than Black ones, double-counting Black votes would restore electoral balance. Vote reparations would be a giant step toward remedying our nation’s long history of denying and devaluing Black votes,” he wrote.
He also stated that the logic wouldn’t be limited to Blacks. At the end of a paragraph about injustices committed against American Indians, he wrote “we should include in vote reparations others who have suffered similar disenfranchisement.”
The university itself also pushed the column, writing a short blurb about it on its official website.
Conservatives were incredulous.
“Why stop at 2-1? Why not 10-1? I mean that One Person, One Vote thing was just so much instrumentalist hogwash, amirite?” wrote Jonah Goldberg of the Dispatch.
Added Mock and Daisy, the self-styled “Chicks on the Right”: “Gee, do you see any problems with this? Do you think this would sow even more racial division? This may have a little problem of equal protection under the law too.”
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-21--Too big to read: Giant bill a leap of faith for Congress

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - The $ 900 billion pandemic relief package being rushed through Congress Monday created a familiar year-end conundrum for lawmakers : It was a bill too big to fail , and also too big to read .
Delivering virus aid to the country required a leap of faith for lawmakers as they were casting their votes , practically sight unseen , for a sprawling , 5,593-page bill that linked the pandemic aid with a $ 1.4 trillion annual spending bill to fund the government .
The Senate Historical Office says it ’ s the longest bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think if we provide everyone a paper copy we would have to destroy an entire forest , ” joked House Rules Committee Chairman James McGovern , responding to a Republican request for a hard copy of the legislation .
The bill was released at 2 p.m. , just hours before the House and Senate were expected to vote on it .
Also in the bill : hundreds of unrelated legislative items negotiated by leadership to win votes from various constituencies .
It includes extended tax breaks for the alcohol industry and motor speedways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for music copyrights , approval of two new Smithsonian museums and lessened penalties for the transportation of water hyacinths .
There ’ s also an entire section on Tibet , including a statement of U.S. policy on how to determine the country ’ s next spiritual leader , the Dalai Lama , and the decriminalization of the use of the Swiss coat of arms .
It was a dizzying if familiar finish in the Capitol , where lawmakers often procrastinate on passing bills - even those with broad support - until they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a holiday break .
It ’ s why such bills are often called “ Christmas trees , ” trimmed with legislative ornaments , and stand among the most glaring symptoms of a broken Congress where the two parties can ’ t agree until they absolutely have to .
Still , the package was an extraordinary response to the global pandemic - the second major bill this year - and was negotiated almost entirely behind closed doors by congressional leadership .
And because it includes long-awaited virus relief for businesses and individuals , all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ride to President Donald Trump ’ s desk .
Some frustrated members of both parties seemed unlikely to go along even with the bill destined to pass .
“ NOT ONE Member of Congress will have had time to read through it before voting later today , ” tweeted Rep. Ralph Norman , R-S.C. “ This is awful governance , and a disservice to the American people.
” Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York echoed that thought : “ It ’ s not good enough to hear about what ’ s in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before it was released .
“ Members of Congress need to see & read the bills we are expected to vote on .
I know it ’ s ‘ controversial ’ & I get in trouble for sharing things like this , but the people of this country deserve to know .
They deserve better.
” Rep. Mark Walker , R-N.C. , said : “ I can ’ t in good faith vote for legislation of this magnitude without first thoroughly examining its contents and how it affects North Carolinians and their futures.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for individuals suffering economically “ too little , too late.
” Some of the unrelated items weren ’ t controversial .
There ’ s relief for victims of steep surprise medical bills and the approval of the two museums that will honor American Latinos and women .
A Republican senator blocked the two museums earlier this month even though they have broad bipartisan support .
Other items in the package hadn ’ t passed on their own due to partisan bickering that stalled much of the Senate ’ s work .
They included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bipartisan compromise , and legislation renewing the nation ’ s intelligence programs .
The bill also overhauls the aircraft certification process in the wake of crashes of Boeing 737 MAX planes - legislation that the House Transportation Committee called “ one of the most significant overhauls to the FAA certification reform process in recent history.
” Several high-ticket items won inclusion , including an almost 400-page water resources bill that targets $ 10 billion for 46 Army Corps of Engineers flood control , environmental and coastal protection projects .
There was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broadband , $ 4 billion to help other nations vaccinate their people , $ 14 billion for cash-starved transit systems , Amtrak and airports .
And then there were the smaller items stowed away in the thousands of pages - important to some lawmakers , but unlikely to win coveted floor time in a freestanding bill .
One section repealed a variety of little-known criminal penalties for minor violations , including the transportation of the water hyacinths and the use of the Swiss coat of arms .
The section also decriminalizes the unauthorized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the unauthorized use of the 4-H Club emblem , the “ Smokey Bear ” character or name , the “ Woodsy Owl ” character , name or slogan , or “ The Golden Eagle Insignia.
” Though most of the items were listed in lengthy bill summaries , it was unlikely that most lawmakers would even know those things were there .
“ Here are the 5,593 pages of language which I ’ m now perusing and on which we ’ ll be voting in about six hours , ” tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who worked on the virus relief compromise .
Phillips asked where he could find Evelyn Wood , the late American educator who popularized speed reading .
Associated Press writer Andrew Taylor contributed to this report .

WASHINGTON (AP) - The $900 billion pandemic relief package that was rushed through Congress Monday created a familiar year-end conundrum for lawmakers: It was a bill too big to fail, and also too big to read.
Delivering virus aid to the country required a leap of faith for lawmakers as they cast their votes, practically sight unseen, for a sprawling, 5,593-page bill that linked the pandemic aid with a $1.4 trillion annual spending bill to fund the government. The Senate Historical Office says it’s the longest bill they could find record of passing Congress.
“I think if we provide everyone a paper copy we would have to destroy an entire forest,” joked House Rules Committee Chairman James McGovern, responding to a Republican request for a hard copy of the legislation Monday afternoon. The bill was released at 2 p.m., just hours before the House and Senate began voting on it.
Also in the bill: hundreds of unrelated legislative items negotiated by leadership to win support from various constituencies. It includes extended tax breaks for the alcohol industry and motor speedways, comprehensive energy legislation, revised copyright rules, approval of two new Smithsonian museums and lessened penalties for the transportation of water hyacinths. There’s also an entire section on Tibet, including a statement of U.S. policy on how to determine the country’s next spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and the decriminalization of the use of the Swiss coat of arms.
It was a dizzying if familiar finish in the Capitol, where lawmakers often procrastinate on passing bills - even those with broad support - until they are on the cusp of heading home for a holiday break. It’s why such bills are often called “Christmas trees,” trimmed with legislative ornaments, and stand among the most glaring symptoms of a broken Congress where the two parties can’t agree until they absolutely have to.
Still, the package was an extraordinary response to the global pandemic - the second major bill this year - and was negotiated almost entirely behind closed doors by congressional leadership. And because it includes long-awaited virus relief for businesses and individuals, all the additional items were catching a free ride to President Donald Trump’s desk.
Though the legislation passed with large margins in both the House and Senate, members of both parties expressed frustration with the process.
“NOT ONE Member of Congress will have had time to read through it before voting later today,” tweeted Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C. “This is awful governance, and a disservice to the American people.”
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York echoed that thought: “It’s not good enough to hear about what’s in the bill,” she tweeted just before it was released. “Members of Congress need to see & read the bills we are expected to vote on. I know it’s ‘controversial’ & I get in trouble for sharing things like this, but the people of this country deserve to know. They deserve better.”
Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C., said: “I can’t in good faith vote for legislation of this magnitude without first thoroughly examining its contents and how it affects North Carolinians and their futures.” He called a $600 check for individuals suffering economically “too little, too late.”
Some of the unrelated items weren’t controversial. There’s relief for victims of steep surprise medical bills and the approval of the two museums that will honor American Latinos and women. A Republican senator blocked the two museums earlier this month even though they have broad bipartisan support.
Other items in the package hadn’t passed on their own due to partisan bickering that stalled much of the Senate’s work. They included clean energy provisions, the result of a bipartisan compromise, and legislation renewing the nation’s intelligence programs. The bill also overhauls the aircraft certification process in the wake of crashes of Boeing 737 MAX planes - legislation that the House Transportation Committee called “one of the most significant overhauls to the FAA certification reform process in recent history.”
Several high-ticket items won inclusion, including an almost 400-page water resources bill that targets $10 billion for 46 Army Corps of Engineers flood control, environmental and coastal protection projects. There was also $7 billion to increase access to broadband, $4 billion to help other nations vaccinate their people and $14 billion for cash-starved transit systems, Amtrak and airports.
And then there were the smaller items stowed away in the thousands of pages - important to some lawmakers, but unlikely to win coveted floor time in a freestanding bill.
One section repealed a variety of little-known criminal penalties for minor violations, including the transportation of the water hyacinths and the use of the Swiss coat of arms. The section also decriminalizes the unauthorized application of theft prevention decals or devices, and the unauthorized use of the 4-H Club emblem, the “Smokey Bear” character, the “Woodsy Owl” character or “The Golden Eagle Insignia.”
Though most of the items were listed in lengthy bill summaries, it was unlikely that most lawmakers would even know those things were there.
“Here are the 5,593 pages of language which I’m now perusing and on which we’ll be voting in about six hours,” tweeted Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips, a Democrat who worked on the virus relief compromise.
Phillips asked where he could find Evelyn Wood, the late American educator who popularized speed reading.
___
Associated Press writer Andrew Taylor contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-12-21--Trump Iran pressure imperils Biden nuclear deal return desire

China , Russia and European nations seeking to salvage the Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran said Monday that they would welcome a U.S. return to the accord , but President Trump ’ s escalation of pressure on the Iranian regime during his final weeks in office could hobble the incoming Biden administration ’ s pursuit of diplomacy with Tehran .
President-elect Joseph R. Biden has signaled an eagerness to work toward rejuvenating the 2015 agreement , but the Trump administration is doubling down with a campaign that has choked Iran ’ s economy over the past four years and contained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military force in the Persian Gulf .
The Navy on Monday sailed the nuclear-powered submarine USS Georgia through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz .
It even took the unusual step of publicly declaring that the vessel can carry “ 154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles ” and could transport “ 66 Special Operations Forces.
” The USS Georgia was accompanied by the missile cruisers USS Port Royal and USS Philippine Sea .
“ As an inherently flexible maneuver force , capable of supporting routine and contingency operations , Georgia ’ s presence demonstrates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partners and maritime security with a full spectrum of capabilities to remain ready to defend against any threat at any time , ” the Navy ’ s 5th Fleet said in a statement , marking a rare occasion in which the U.S. military detailed the movements of a nuclear submarine .
The U.S. sent the unmistakable warning to Tehran just a day after administration officials blamed Iran-backed militias for a rocket attack on the U.S. Embassy complex in Baghdad .
After a period of searing escalation early this year , tensions with Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mohsen Fakhrizadeh , a top Iranian nuclear scientist , was assassinated near Tehran .
Iran ’ s leaders blamed Israel and the U.S. for the machine gun attack .
Next month will mark the one-year anniversary of an American airstrike that killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani , the head of Iran ’ s Revolutionary Guard Corps , an incident that brought the U.S. and Iran to the brink of all-out war .
There are concerns in American national security circles that Iran may launch a wave of attacks on the anniversary of Soleimani ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backdrop , Mr. Biden and his incoming foreign policy team have signaled a desire to dial back the confrontational posture toward Iran that has been characteristic of the Trump era .
It remains to be seen whether such a dialing-back will include the extension of olive branches to Tehran .
U.S. policy hawks have spent recent weeks calling on the incoming administration to avoid any rush to ease sanctions that Mr. Trump has rebuilt against Tehran since pulling the U.S. out of the nuclear deal in 2018 .
Although there are logistical and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re-entry into the nuclear deal might entail , Mr. Biden has suggested that Washington will seek a diplomatic arrangement that offers some form of sanctions relief in exchange for new nuclear enrichment limitation guarantees from Iran .
The president-elect has stressed that he won ’ t allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon and will push to negotiate a deal that extends limits on Tehran ’ s nuclear activities that go beyond the original parameters and deadlines laid out in the 2015 pact , known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with our allies and partners , we ’ re going to engage in negotiations and follow-on agreements to tighten and lengthen Iran ’ s nuclear constraints , as well as address the missile program , ” Mr. Biden told The New York Times in an interview published this month .
Mr. Biden ’ s comments on the matter have been welcomed by European powers , as well as the Russian and Chinese governments , whose representatives signed the 2015 nuclear deal .
On Monday , the remaining parties to the deal — Germany @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia — issued a joint statement agreeing to “ positively address ” the notion of a U.S. return .
They asserted that the Biden administration has only one chance to reverse Trump-era policies and reembrace the agreement .
“ We are standing at a crossroads today , ” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told reporters in Berlin after a virtual meeting of the JCPOA parties .
“ The opportunity that is now being offered — this last window of opportunity — must not be squandered , ” he said .
“ We made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particular.
” But analysts point to some serious geopolitical complications awaiting Mr. Biden .
Chief among them is likely opposition to a new Iran deal from key U.S. allies in the region , particularly Israel and Saudi Arabia .
Saudi officials this month suggested that the Biden White House will face strong pushback if it neglects to consult with Riyadh during any negotiations with the Iranians .
The Israelis , too , will surely seek to derail any deal that stops short of requiring the full and permanent dismantling of Iran ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the existing JCPOA , specialists say , appears difficult given the U.S. exit and the fact that Iran has admitted to breaching its own promises .
Critics say a reworked version of the agreement built on the same premise of sanctions relief in exchange for nuclear enrichment limitations by Iran is also unlikely to work .
“ Iran will always welcome new diplomacy so long as it comes with billions of dollars in incentives to refill Revolutionary Guards ’ coffers , ” said former Defense Department official Michael Rubin , now a resident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s one thing to agree to a process when that process brings with it much-needed cash , but no diplomat should be under any illusion Iran joins a process to make amends or reach peace , ” Mr. Rubin told The Washington Times on Monday .
“ The JCPOA was about normalizing Iran ’ s illegal activities , not ending them .
No one in the region believed Obama White House talking points about the agreement ’ s efficiency , which is why Obama and his team got so ornery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to point out the agreement ’ s deficiencies.
” Iranian officials have argued that the 2018 U.S. exit essentially nullified much of the JCPOA , therefore giving Tehran the green light to ramp up the enrichment of uranium and other aspects of its nuclear program .
At the United Nations , meanwhile , the international community has largely agreed that Washington forfeited any authority over what a future accord should look like when it exited the original deal , which was negotiated by U.S. officials under President Obama .
Still , the burden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some foreign officials say Iran must act in good faith if it expects something in return .
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab , who took part in Monday ’ s virtual meeting , said Iran must abandon all plans to expand its nuclear program outside the limits allowed by the JCPOA .
“ I made it absolutely clear Iran must not implement the recently announced expansions to its nuclear program , ” he said .
“ To do so would undermine the opportunities for progress we hope to see in 2021 .
”

China, Russia and European nations seeking to salvage the Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran said Monday that they would welcome a U.S. return to the accord, but President Trump’s escalation of pressure on the Iranian regime during his final weeks in office could hobble the incoming Biden administration’s pursuit of diplomacy with Tehran.
President-elect Joseph R. Biden has signaled an eagerness to work toward rejuvenating the 2015 agreement, but the Trump administration is doubling down with a campaign that has choked Iran’s economy over the past four years and contained Iranian aggression with regular shows of U.S. military force in the Persian Gulf.
The Navy on Monday sailed the nuclear-powered submarine USS Georgia through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. It even took the unusual step of publicly declaring that the vessel can carry “154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles” and could transport “66 Special Operations Forces.”
The USS Georgia was accompanied by the missile cruisers USS Port Royal and USS Philippine Sea.
“As an inherently flexible maneuver force, capable of supporting routine and contingency operations, Georgia’s presence demonstrates the United States’ commitment to regional partners and maritime security with a full spectrum of capabilities to remain ready to defend against any threat at any time,” the Navy’s 5th Fleet said in a statement, marking a rare occasion in which the U.S. military detailed the movements of a nuclear submarine.
The U.S. sent the unmistakable warning to Tehran just a day after administration officials blamed Iran-backed militias for a rocket attack on the U.S. Embassy complex in Baghdad.
After a period of searing escalation early this year, tensions with Iran are rising again after the revelation that Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a top Iranian nuclear scientist, was assassinated near Tehran. Iran’s leaders blamed Israel and the U.S. for the machine gun attack.
Next month will mark the one-year anniversary of an American airstrike that killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, an incident that brought the U.S. and Iran to the brink of all-out war. There are concerns in American national security circles that Iran may launch a wave of attacks on the anniversary of Soleimani’s death.
With that as a backdrop, Mr. Biden and his incoming foreign policy team have signaled a desire to dial back the confrontational posture toward Iran that has been characteristic of the Trump era.
It remains to be seen whether such a dialing-back will include the extension of olive branches to Tehran. U.S. policy hawks have spent recent weeks calling on the incoming administration to avoid any rush to ease sanctions that Mr. Trump has rebuilt against Tehran since pulling the U.S. out of the nuclear deal in 2018.
Although there are logistical and legal questions about what a potential U.S. re-entry into the nuclear deal might entail, Mr. Biden has suggested that Washington will seek a diplomatic arrangement that offers some form of sanctions relief in exchange for new nuclear enrichment limitation guarantees from Iran.
The president-elect has stressed that he won’t allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon and will push to negotiate a deal that extends limits on Tehran’s nuclear activities that go beyond the original parameters and deadlines laid out in the 2015 pact, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
“In consultation with our allies and partners, we’re going to engage in negotiations and follow-on agreements to tighten and lengthen Iran’s nuclear constraints, as well as address the missile program,” Mr. Biden told The New York Times in an interview published this month.
‘New diplomacy’
Mr. Biden’s comments on the matter have been welcomed by European powers, as well as the Russian and Chinese governments, whose representatives signed the 2015 nuclear deal.
On Monday, the remaining parties to the deal — Germany, France, Britain, China and Russia — issued a joint statement agreeing to “positively address” the notion of a U.S. return.
They asserted that the Biden administration has only one chance to reverse Trump-era policies and reembrace the agreement. “We are standing at a crossroads today,” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told reporters in Berlin after a virtual meeting of the JCPOA parties.
“The opportunity that is now being offered — this last window of opportunity — must not be squandered,” he said. “We made that very clear today to Iran in particular.”
But analysts point to some serious geopolitical complications awaiting Mr. Biden. Chief among them is likely opposition to a new Iran deal from key U.S. allies in the region, particularly Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi officials this month suggested that the Biden White House will face strong pushback if it neglects to consult with Riyadh during any negotiations with the Iranians.
The Israelis, too, will surely seek to derail any deal that stops short of requiring the full and permanent dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program.
A simple resumption of the existing JCPOA, specialists say, appears difficult given the U.S. exit and the fact that Iran has admitted to breaching its own promises. Critics say a reworked version of the agreement built on the same premise of sanctions relief in exchange for nuclear enrichment limitations by Iran is also unlikely to work.
“Iran will always welcome new diplomacy so long as it comes with billions of dollars in incentives to refill Revolutionary Guards’ coffers,” said former Defense Department official Michael Rubin, now a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.
“It’s one thing to agree to a process when that process brings with it much-needed cash, but no diplomat should be under any illusion Iran joins a process to make amends or reach peace,” Mr. Rubin told The Washington Times on Monday. “The JCPOA was about normalizing Iran’s illegal activities, not ending them. No one in the region believed Obama White House talking points about the agreement’s efficiency, which is why Obama and his team got so ornery when Netanyahu or moderate Arab leaders sought to point out the agreement’s deficiencies.”
Iranian officials have argued that the 2018 U.S. exit essentially nullified much of the JCPOA, therefore giving Tehran the green light to ramp up the enrichment of uranium and other aspects of its nuclear program.
At the United Nations, meanwhile, the international community has largely agreed that Washington forfeited any authority over what a future accord should look like when it exited the original deal, which was negotiated by U.S. officials under President Obama.
Still, the burden does not lie entirely with Washington.
Some foreign officials say Iran must act in good faith if it expects something in return.
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who took part in Monday’s virtual meeting, said Iran must abandon all plans to expand its nuclear program outside the limits allowed by the JCPOA.
“I made it absolutely clear Iran must not implement the recently announced expansions to its nuclear program,” he said. “To do so would undermine the opportunities for progress we hope to see in 2021.”
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-21--2 killed when plane crashes along Texas service road

GRAND PRAIRIE , Texas ( AP ) - Two people were killed when a small plane crashed along a highway service road in North Texas shortly after taking off Monday afternoon , authorities said .
The Federal Aviation Administration said the single-engine Wheeler Express CT crashed about 1 miles ( 1.61 kilometers ) west of the Grand Prairie Municipal Airport , located in the city just west of Dallas .
Grand Prairie Fire Chief Robert Fite said witnesses said the plane came down rapidly , hit a telephone pole and then struggled another 500 feet ( 152.40 meters ) - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hitting a pickup truck traveling on the service road .
Fite said the person in the truck was slightly injured and was taken to the hospital as a precaution .
The plane caught fire after coming to rest in a grassy area near a Sonic drive-in restaurant , Fite said .
“ The plane was in obvious distress coming down , ” Fite said .
“ We do not know if this was an emergency landing or a catastrophic failure.
” Fire officials said in a news release that the identities of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed are not being released at this time .
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate .

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (AP) - Two people were killed when a small plane crashed along a highway service road in North Texas shortly after taking off, authorities said.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the single-engine Wheeler Express CT crashed Monday afternoon about 1 mile (1.61 kilometers) west of the Grand Prairie Municipal Airport, located in the city just west of Dallas.
Grand Prairie Fire Chief Robert Fite said witnesses said the plane came down rapidly, hit a telephone pole and then struggled another 500 feet (152.40 meters) - hitting the concrete multiple times - before hitting a pickup truck traveling on the service road.
Fite said the person in the truck was slightly injured and was taken to the hospital as a precaution.
The plane caught fire after coming to rest in a grassy area near a Sonic drive-in restaurant, Fite said.
“The plane was in obvious distress coming down,” Fite said. “We do not know if this was an emergency landing or a catastrophic failure.”
Fire officials said in a news release that the identities of the two people aboard the plane who were killed were not being released at this time.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.


washingtontimes--2020-12-21--2 charged with fraud, money laundering in $30 million scheme

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Two brothers are facing health care fraud and money laundering charges in connection to a $ 30 million scheme that took advantage of the pandemic emergency ’ s relaxing of some Medicare regulations , authorities said Monday as they unsealed a federal indictment .
Peter Khaim , 40 , and Arkadiy Khaimov , 37 , were both charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud , and conspiracy to commit money laundering .
They were each separately charged with concealment money laundering .
The men , of the Forest Hills section @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested Monday .
An attorney for Khaimov declined comment .
An email seeking comment was sent to Khaim ’ s attorney .
In the indictment , authorities said the men had false claims submitted to Medicare from pharmacies they were in control of in New York City and on Long Island .
The claims took advantage of the easing of drug prescription authorization rules in the pandemic to say an expensive cancer medication was being prescribed , purchased and distributed to patients when that was not true , according to the indictment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has a wholesale price of $ 34,000 per tube , authorities said .
Authorities also accused the men of taking the money from the fraud scheme and using it for a money laundering operation that sent money to businesses in China and from there to people in Uzbekistan .
The indictment said the men used their proceeds from the plan to buy real estate and luxury items .

NEW YORK (AP) - Two brothers are facing health care fraud and money laundering charges in connection to a $30 million scheme that took advantage of the pandemic emergency’s relaxing of some Medicare regulations, authorities said Monday as they unsealed a federal indictment.
Peter Khaim, 40, and Arkadiy Khaimov, 37, were both charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. They were each separately charged with concealment money laundering.
The men, of the Forest Hills section of Queens, New York, were arrested Monday. An attorney for Khaimov declined comment. An email seeking comment was sent to Khaim’s attorney.
In the indictment, authorities said the men had false claims submitted to Medicare from pharmacies they were in control of in New York City and on Long Island.
The claims took advantage of the easing of drug prescription authorization rules in the pandemic to say an expensive cancer medication was being prescribed, purchased and distributed to patients when that was not true, according to the indictment. The medication, Targretin Gel 1%, has a wholesale price of $34,000 per tube, authorities said.
Authorities also accused the men of taking the money from the fraud scheme and using it for a money laundering operation that sent money to businesses in China and from there to people in Uzbekistan.
The indictment said the men used their proceeds from the plan to buy real estate and luxury items.


washingtontimes--2020-12-21--Killer charged in 1988 slaying of 9-year-old California girl

Michaela Joy Garecht was last seen on Nov. 19 , 1988 , wearing jeans rolled over her knees and feather-shaped earrings .
More than 32 years later , the 9-year-old girl with blond hair and blue eyes is still missing .
California authorities announced Monday that they have charged convicted killer David Misch with Michaela ’ s kidnapping and slaying , a cold case that stunned the San Francisco Bay Area .
Police said they only recently were able to match a partial palm print at the scene to Misch .
But Michaela ’ s body has never been found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month .
“ In the last year , I had to come to a place accepting that Michaela was probably no longer alive , ” her mother , Sharon Murch , wrote in a statement .
“ But somehow , that acceptance was far more wrapped up in the idea of Michaela sitting on a fluffy pink cloud walking streets of gold , dancing on grassy hills , soaring among the stars .
What I did not envision was my daughter as a dead child .
“ It was only when I heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeared , and I honestly have not figured out what to do with it , ” Murch said .
On Nov. 19 , 1988 , Michaela and her best friend rode their scooters to a market in Hayward to buy a snack days before Thanksgiving .
It was their first trip there without teenage neighbors .
They left their scooters outside , and officials allege that Misch moved a scooter to isolate one of the girls .
When Michaela went to retrieve it , he forced her into his car and drove away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Misch ’ s charges was found on the scooter .
It was too small to be scanned through a computer database and had to be analyzed manually .
Misch , now 59 , has been charged with murder and kidnapping and is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday .
It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf .
Misch was already in a prison for the 1989 murder of a woman in the Hayward area .
He is also a suspect in a 1986 case where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another city in the Bay Area .
Fremont police reached out to Hayward detectives about Misch , thinking there might be a link between their cases even though some of the circumstances were different .
Authorities would not say what led police to believe the cases were connected .
Hayward detectives are treating Michaela ’ s disappearance as a murder even though her body was never found .
Rows of filing cabinets , each drawer marked with a photograph of the young girl , have filled the police station for more than 32 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solace to Michaela ’ s mother .
“ I feel as though I am still looking for Michaela , but now I don ’ t know where , ” she wrote .
“ I honestly feel lost in the dark .
”

Michaela Joy Garecht was last seen on Nov. 19, 1988, wearing jeans rolled over her knees and feather-shaped earrings.
More than 32 years later, the 9-year-old girl with blond hair and blue eyes is still missing.
California authorities announced Monday that they have charged convicted killer David Misch with Michaela’s kidnapping and slaying, a cold case that stunned the San Francisco Bay Area. Police said they only recently were able to match a partial palm print at the scene to Misch.
But Michaela’s body has never been found. She would have been 42 next month.
“In the last year, I had to come to a place accepting that Michaela was probably no longer alive,” her mother, Sharon Murch, wrote in a statement. “But somehow, that acceptance was far more wrapped up in the idea of Michaela sitting on a fluffy pink cloud walking streets of gold, dancing on grassy hills, soaring among the stars. What I did not envision was my daughter as a dead child.
“It was only when I heard this news that this vision of reality appeared, and I honestly have not figured out what to do with it,” Murch said.
On Nov. 19, 1988, Michaela and her best friend rode their scooters to a market in Hayward to buy a snack days before Thanksgiving. It was their first trip there without teenage neighbors.
They left their scooters outside, and officials allege that Misch moved a scooter to isolate one of the girls. When Michaela went to retrieve it, he forced her into his car and drove away. The palm print that led to Misch’s charges was found on the scooter. It was too small to be scanned through a computer database and had to be analyzed manually.
Misch, now 59, has been charged with murder and kidnapping and is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
Misch was already in a prison for the 1989 murder of a woman in the Hayward area. He is also a suspect in a 1986 case where two women were killed in Fremont, another city in the Bay Area.
Fremont police reached out to Hayward detectives about Misch, thinking there might be a link between their cases even though some of the circumstances were different. Authorities would not say what led police to believe the cases were connected.
Hayward detectives are treating Michaela’s disappearance as a murder even though her body was never found.
Rows of filing cabinets, each drawer marked with a photograph of the young girl, have filled the police station for more than 32 years.
The charges have brought little solace to Michaela’s mother.
“I feel as though I am still looking for Michaela, but now I don’t know where,” she wrote. “I honestly feel lost in the dark.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-21--Officials working to find out extent of SolarWinds hack

Government officials are working to find the extent of the SolarWinds hack of federal networks , but a previous cyber breach of a cryptocurrency company shows how far and wide the damage can spread .
A breach of cryptocurrency wallet provider Ledger ’ s network over the summer was thought to have exposed information on fewer than 10,000 customers .
Then hundreds of thousands of physical addresses , phone numbers and email addresses of the company ’ s users were published online .
“ After we were made aware of the dump of December [ 19 ] 20 , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the initial 9,500 customers had their personal data exposed , ” Ledger said on its website .
The company then said it sent an email to its customers in that subset , around 272,000 people .
Alongside the more than 270,000 instances of customers ’ data compromised by hackers , about 1 million of its customers ’ email addresses were also exposed .
Ledger executives said the company fixed the breach on the same day it was discovered .
The company hired a new chief information security officer and said a third-party consultancy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe that 9,500 customers were affected instead of the much larger number .
The cyber breach happened because the cyberattacker gained access to Ledger ’ s e-commerce and marketing database through a third party .
While the nature of the SolarWinds hack is different , the use of a third party to invade a larger target is a common vulnerability that hackers exploited in both instances .
In the days since the SolarWinds hack was made public and panicked 18,000 of the software company ’ s consumers , security researchers have discovered other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a way to hack into larger targets .
Cybersecurity experts , such as Microsoft software engineer Nick Carr , said they think the other hacking efforts probably were not conducted by the same hackers who pierced the federal government ’ s defenses .
A complete list of federal government agencies and private entities hacked through SolarWinds software has not been made public .
Among the federal agencies thought to be affected are the Treasury Department , Commerce Department , State Department , Department of Homeland Security , National Institutes of Health , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a letter from Senate Finance Committee ’ s leaders to the IRS .
The exact identity of the hackers is not known but Russia is a top suspect , said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .
Attorney General William Barr on Monday told reporters he agreed with Mr. Pompeo ’ s conclusion that Russia was likely behind the hack .
Mr. Barr did not elaborate .
President Trump tweeted Saturday that the hack may have been conducted by China .
He also said he had everything under control .

Government officials are working to find the extent of the SolarWinds hack of federal networks, but a previous cyber breach of a cryptocurrency company shows how far and wide the damage can spread.
A breach of cryptocurrency wallet provider Ledger’s network over the summer was thought to have exposed information on fewer than 10,000 customers. Then hundreds of thousands of physical addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of the company’s users were published online.
“After we were made aware of the dump of December [19]20, it became clear that a larger subset than the initial 9,500 customers had their personal data exposed,” Ledger said on its website. The company then said it sent an email to its customers in that subset, around 272,000 people.
Alongside the more than 270,000 instances of customers’ data compromised by hackers, about 1 million of its customers’ email addresses were also exposed.
Ledger executives said the company fixed the breach on the same day it was discovered. The company hired a new chief information security officer and said a third-party consultancy’s forensic analysis led them to believe that 9,500 customers were affected instead of the much larger number.
The cyber breach happened because the cyberattacker gained access to Ledger’s e-commerce and marketing database through a third party.
While the nature of the SolarWinds hack is different, the use of a third party to invade a larger target is a common vulnerability that hackers exploited in both instances.
In the days since the SolarWinds hack was made public and panicked 18,000 of the software company’s consumers, security researchers have discovered other efforts to infiltrate SolarWinds consumers’ networks as a way to hack into larger targets.
Cybersecurity experts, such as Microsoft software engineer Nick Carr, said they think the other hacking efforts probably were not conducted by the same hackers who pierced the federal government’s defenses.
A complete list of federal government agencies and private entities hacked through SolarWinds software has not been made public.
Among the federal agencies thought to be affected are the Treasury Department, Commerce Department, State Department, Department of Homeland Security, National Institutes of Health, and components of the Pentagon, according to a letter from Senate Finance Committee’s leaders to the IRS.
The exact identity of the hackers is not known but Russia is a top suspect, said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Attorney General William Barr on Monday told reporters he agreed with Mr. Pompeo’s conclusion that Russia was likely behind the hack. Mr. Barr did not elaborate.
President Trump tweeted Saturday that the hack may have been conducted by China. He also said he had everything under control.
• Ryan Lovelace can be reached at rlovelace@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-21--Kansas City newspaper reckons with its racial mistreatment

NEW YORK ( AP ) - The first significant attention that the Kansas City Star gave to hometown hero and jazz legend Charlie “ Bird ” Parker came when he died in 1955 - and the newspaper spelled his name wrong .
That detail came to light when the Star investigated , and apologized for , its mistreatment of Black citizens over many decades in a self-reckoning that came in a series of stories published on Sunday .
In its blunt self-assessment , the Star found that for many decades of its 140-year history , Black residents were rarely mentioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a newspaper produced by white reporters and editors for white readers and advertisers .
“ We were all a little stunned by how egregious the coverage was and how much the Star had failed to rise above the thinking of the time , ” said Mike Fannin , president and editor of the newspaper , where he has worked since 1997 .
“ Generations of Black Kansas City residents grew up not trusting the Star , ” he said in an interview Monday .
The project arose from discussions following the death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minneapolis police , which sparked demonstrations around the world , including Kansas City .
Fannin credited reporter Mara Rose Williams with the specific idea .
Over the past couple of decades , a number of news organizations have conducted critical exhumations of their past work , including many Southern newspapers that looked at coverage of the civil rights movement , said Richard Prince , a veteran editor who writes about media diversity issues .
The Lexington ( Kentucky ) Herald-Leader , Montgomery ( Alabama ) Advertiser ) and Meridian ( Mississippi ) Star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are a lot of people who want to make amends and atone in some ways , but there is much more to be done , ” Prince said .
The Los Angeles Times did a similar look at its history this fall .
But its focus was also current , because several minority journalists at the newspaper said it had to do a much better job at hiring minorities and covering issues important in their communities .
Stacy Shaw , a social justice lawyer who helped organize post-Floyd demonstrations in Kansas City , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-examination and said she hoped other news organizations would do the same .
Shaw was appointed to a Star advisory board to discuss coverage issues moving forward .
“ For so long , Black people have been unfairly and negatively portrayed in mass media , ” she said .
Shaw said it ’ s not an issue that should be relegated to history , however ; she said she ’ s had issues with how the paper has covered some racial equity issues by giving deference to police .
Shaw this fall represented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was nine months pregnant in September when a Kansas City police officer held her with his knee in her back , prompting community protests .
Prince noted there is a financial incentive for news organizations to come to terms with their histories given the increased percentage of Blacks and other minorities in the population .
“ You want to have those readers who will appreciate that you are owning up to your past , ” he said .
The Star this fall hired an editor specifically to look at diversity issues .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kansas City ’ s fire department and a project on the relationship between gun violence and the relationship between police and the Black community .
But there are always things that could be done better , Fannin said .
Fannin said virtually every other metropolitan newspaper in the United States could do similar stories about their past , and hoped the Star would spark similar conversations elsewhere .
He said he ’ s been heartened by much of the response he ’ s received in Kansas City , but not all .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call he received Monday who was a man who berated him for the stories , using a racial slur .

NEW YORK (AP) - The first significant attention that the Kansas City Star gave to hometown hero and jazz legend Charlie “Bird” Parker came when he died in 1955 - and the newspaper spelled his name wrong.
That detail came to light when the Star investigated, and apologized for, its mistreatment of Black citizens over many decades in a self-reckoning that came in a series of stories published on Sunday.
In its blunt self-assessment, the Star found that for many decades of its 140-year history, Black residents were rarely mentioned in anything but crime stories. It was a newspaper produced by white reporters and editors for white readers and advertisers.
“We were all a little stunned by how egregious the coverage was and how much the Star had failed to rise above the thinking of the time,” said Mike Fannin, president and editor of the newspaper, where he has worked since 1997.
“Generations of Black Kansas City residents grew up not trusting the Star,” he said in an interview Monday.
The project arose from discussions following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, which sparked demonstrations around the world, including Kansas City. Fannin credited reporter Mara Rose Williams with the specific idea.
Over the past couple of decades, a number of news organizations have conducted critical exhumations of their past work, including many Southern newspapers that looked at coverage of the civil rights movement, said Richard Prince, a veteran editor who writes about media diversity issues. The Lexington (Kentucky) Herald-Leader, Montgomery (Alabama) Advertiser) and Meridian (Mississippi) Star have been among them.
“There are a lot of people who want to make amends and atone in some ways, but there is much more to be done,” Prince said.
The Los Angeles Times did a similar look at its history this fall. But its focus was also current, because several minority journalists at the newspaper said it had to do a much better job at hiring minorities and covering issues important in their communities.
Stacy Shaw, a social justice lawyer who helped organize post-Floyd demonstrations in Kansas City, applauded the Star for taking on the self-examination and said she hoped other news organizations would do the same. Shaw was appointed to a Star advisory board to discuss coverage issues moving forward.
“For so long, Black people have been unfairly and negatively portrayed in mass media,” she said.
Shaw said it’s not an issue that should be relegated to history, however; she said she’s had issues with how the paper has covered some racial equity issues by giving deference to police. Shaw this fall represented Deja Stallings, a Black woman who was nine months pregnant in September when a Kansas City police officer held her with his knee in her back, prompting community protests.
Prince noted there is a financial incentive for news organizations to come to terms with their histories given the increased percentage of Blacks and other minorities in the population.
“You want to have those readers who will appreciate that you are owning up to your past,” he said.
The Star this fall hired an editor specifically to look at diversity issues. It has done projects on systemic racism in Kansas City’s fire department and a project on the relationship between gun violence and the relationship between police and the Black community.
But there are always things that could be done better, Fannin said.
Fannin said virtually every other metropolitan newspaper in the United States could do similar stories about their past, and hoped the Star would spark similar conversations elsewhere.
He said he’s been heartened by much of the response he’s received in Kansas City, but not all. On the other end of the first phone call he received Monday who was a man who berated him for the stories, using a racial slur.


washingtontimes--2020-12-22--Kushner heads to Morocco to mark normalization with Israel

BEN-GURION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT , Israel ( AP ) — Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner led a delegation from Israel to Morocco on Tuesday on the first known direct flight since the two countries agreed to establish full diplomatic ties earlier this month as part of a series of U.S.-brokered normalization accords with Arab countries .
Kushner , President Donald Trump ’ s son-in-law , has overseen the diplomatic push that saw the United Arab Emirates , Bahrain , Sudan and Morocco normalize relations with Israel in historic agreements that also brought them major favors from Washington .
As part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is home to a small but centuries-old Jewish community and has long welcomed Israeli tourists , secured U.S. recognition of its 1975 annexation of the disputed region of Western Sahara , which is not recognized by the United Nations .
The U.S. decision to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara has drawn criticism from the U.N. as well as American allies in Africa and beyond .
African observers have said it could destabilize the broader region , already struggling against Islamist insurgencies and migrant trafficking .
Former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Western Sahara , has called it “ an astounding retreat from the principles of international law and diplomacy.
” Israel has traditionally backed the U.N. position and has not said whether it will join the U.S. in recognizing Moroccan control over the area .
Joining Kushner was the head of Israel ’ s delegation , National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat .
Both men were expected to meet with Morocco ’ s King Mohammed VI and other top officials .
The delegations were expected to restore low-level relations between Israel and Morocco that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cooperation agreements , including the establishment of direct flights , said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Lior Haiat .
“ The goal is to move the relationship from a low level to full diplomatic relations , ” he said .
He said there was no firm timeline for this process .
Before Israel ’ s establishment in 1948 , Morocco was home to a large Jewish population , many of whose ancestors migrated to North Africa from Spain and Portugal during the Spanish Inquisition .
Today , hundreds of thousands of Israeli Jews trace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small community of Jews , estimated at several thousand people , continues to live there .
During the 1990s , Israel and Morocco established low-level diplomatic relations , but Morocco closed its representative office in Tel Aviv after the eruption of the second Palestinian uprising in 2000 .
Even so , the two countries have maintained good behind-the-scenes contacts , and some 30,000 to 50,000 Israelis continue to visit Morocco each year .
On the tarmac in Israel , Kushner said that he hopes the delegation ’ s visit will “ pave the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Morocco , ” pointing to the emerging ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates .
Ben-Shabbat , whose family immigrated to Israel from Morocco , said that “ history is being written before our eyes.
” Israelis of all backgrounds have celebrated the normalization accords after decades in which their country was shunned by the Arab world over its still-unresolved conflict with the Palestinians .
Saudi Arabia , a regional power with close ties to Morocco , has given its tacit support for the normalization accords and could be next .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abraham Accords ” after the biblical patriarch revered by Muslims and Jews , were a major foreign policy achievement by the Trump administration .
President-elect Joe Biden has welcomed the agreements even as he has vowed to pursue different policies in the region , including returning the U.S. to Iran ’ s nuclear deal with world powers .
But the agreements are all with countries that are geographically distant from Israel and have played a minor role , if any , in the Arab-Israeli conflict .
Critics say they came at a steep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paved the way for the controversial U.S. sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to the Gulf country .
Sudan was removed from the U.S. list of terrorism sponsors , paving the way for much-needed U.S. and international aid but dividing the Sudanese as they negotiate a fragile transition to democracy .
The agreement with Morocco deals a major setback to those in Western Sahara who have fought for independence and want a referendum on the territory ’ s future .
The former Spanish colony the size of Colorado , with a population estimated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have considerable offshore oil deposits and mineral resources .
The accords have also contributed to the severe isolation and weakening of the Palestinians by eroding a longstanding Arab consensus that recognition of Israel should only be given in return for concessions in the peace process .
The Trump administration has given unprecedented support to Israel by moving the U.S. Embassy to contested Jerusalem , abandoning U.S. opposition to West Bank settlements and recognizing Israel ’ s annexation of the Golan Heights , which it seized from Syria in the 1967 war .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kushner , overwhelmingly favored Israel and would have allowed it to keep nearly all of east Jerusalem and up to a third of the West Bank .
Israel seized both territories in the 1967 war , and the Palestinians want them for their future state - a position with wide international support .
Critics say the U.S. recognition of Israeli control over the Golan and Moroccan control of Western Sahara undermine a bedrock principle of international law - the prohibition against seizing territory by force .
Supporters say the accords recognize the reality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age-old enmities to the past .
Biden is opposed to annexation and has vowed to adopt a more even-handed approach to the Mideast conflict , including restoring aid to the Palestinians and pressing for renewed negotiations .

BEN-GURION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Israel (AP) — Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner led a delegation from Israel to Morocco on Tuesday on the first known direct flight since the two countries agreed to establish full diplomatic ties earlier this month as part of a series of U.S.-brokered normalization accords with Arab countries.
Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, has overseen the diplomatic push that saw the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco normalize relations with Israel in historic agreements that also brought them major favors from Washington.
As part of the deal, Morocco, which is home to a small but centuries-old Jewish community and has long welcomed Israeli tourists, secured U.S. recognition of its 1975 annexation of the disputed region of Western Sahara, which is not recognized by the United Nations.
The U.S. decision to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara has drawn criticism from the U.N. as well as American allies in Africa and beyond. African observers have said it could destabilize the broader region, already struggling against Islamist insurgencies and migrant trafficking. Former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker, who served as U.N. envoy to the Western Sahara, has called it “an astounding retreat from the principles of international law and diplomacy.”
Israel has traditionally backed the U.N. position and has not said whether it will join the U.S. in recognizing Moroccan control over the area.
Joining Kushner was the head of Israel’s delegation, National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat. Both men were expected to meet with Morocco’s King Mohammed VI and other top officials.
The delegations were expected to restore low-level relations between Israel and Morocco that existed in the 1990s and sign several cooperation agreements, including the establishment of direct flights, said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Lior Haiat.
“The goal is to move the relationship from a low level to full diplomatic relations,” he said. He said there was no firm timeline for this process.
Before Israel’s establishment in 1948, Morocco was home to a large Jewish population, many of whose ancestors migrated to North Africa from Spain and Portugal during the Spanish Inquisition.
Today, hundreds of thousands of Israeli Jews trace their lineage to Morocco, and a small community of Jews, estimated at several thousand people, continues to live there.
During the 1990s, Israel and Morocco established low-level diplomatic relations, but Morocco closed its representative office in Tel Aviv after the eruption of the second Palestinian uprising in 2000. Even so, the two countries have maintained good behind-the-scenes contacts, and some 30,000 to 50,000 Israelis continue to visit Morocco each year.
On the tarmac in Israel, Kushner said that he hopes the delegation’s visit will “pave the way for another warm peace between Israel and Morocco,” pointing to the emerging ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
Ben-Shabbat, whose family immigrated to Israel from Morocco, said that “history is being written before our eyes.”
Israelis of all backgrounds have celebrated the normalization accords after decades in which their country was shunned by the Arab world over its still-unresolved conflict with the Palestinians. Saudi Arabia, a regional power with close ties to Morocco, has given its tacit support for the normalization accords and could be next.
The agreements, billed as the “Abraham Accords” after the biblical patriarch revered by Muslims and Jews, were a major foreign policy achievement by the Trump administration. President-elect Joe Biden has welcomed the agreements even as he has vowed to pursue different policies in the region, including returning the U.S. to Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers.
But the agreements are all with countries that are geographically distant from Israel and have played a minor role, if any, in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Critics say they came at a steep price. The agreement with the UAE paved the way for the controversial U.S. sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to the Gulf country. Sudan was removed from the U.S. list of terrorism sponsors, paving the way for much-needed U.S. and international aid but dividing the Sudanese as they negotiate a fragile transition to democracy.
The agreement with Morocco deals a major setback to those in Western Sahara who have fought for independence and want a referendum on the territory’s future. The former Spanish colony the size of Colorado, with a population estimated at 350,000 to 500,000, is believed to have considerable offshore oil deposits and mineral resources.
The accords have also contributed to the severe isolation and weakening of the Palestinians by eroding a longstanding Arab consensus that recognition of Israel should only be given in return for concessions in the peace process.
The Trump administration has given unprecedented support to Israel by moving the U.S. Embassy to contested Jerusalem, abandoning U.S. opposition to West Bank settlements and recognizing Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights, which it seized from Syria in the 1967 war.
The Trump Mideast plan, authored by Kushner, overwhelmingly favored Israel and would have allowed it to keep nearly all of east Jerusalem and up to a third of the West Bank. Israel seized both territories in the 1967 war, and the Palestinians want them for their future state - a position with wide international support.
Critics say the U.S. recognition of Israeli control over the Golan and Moroccan control of Western Sahara undermine a bedrock principle of international law - the prohibition against seizing territory by force. Supporters say the accords recognize the reality on the ground and seek to banish age-old enmities to the past.
Biden is opposed to annexation and has vowed to adopt a more even-handed approach to the Mideast conflict, including restoring aid to the Palestinians and pressing for renewed negotiations.


washingtontimes--2020-12-22--Maine bishop calls on Catholics to try "different Christmas"

PORTLAND , Maine ( AP ) - The bishop of Maine ’ s Roman Catholic diocese called on Catholics in the state to observe social distancing and other precautions this Christmas .
Bishop Robert Deeley said 2020 is a year for “ a different Christmas ” because of the coronavirus pandemic .
He said he plans to stay home and celebrate live-streamed masses on Christmas morning at midnight and 10 a.m. this year .
Deeley said it ’ s a good year to “ put more lights up outside the house but bring less people into the house.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in any gatherings that involve people from different households .
Deeley previously called on the state ’ s Catholics to use the coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available to them .
The latest average positivity rate in Maine is 5.84 % .
State health departments are calculating positivity rate differently across the country , but for Maine the AP calculates the rate by dividing new cases by test specimens using data from The COVID Tracking Project .
The 7-day rolling average of the positivity rate in Maine has risen over the past two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 5.84 % on Dec. 21 .
Public health authorities in Maine have reported more than 19,000 cases of the virus in the state since the start of the pandemic .

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - The bishop of Maine’s Roman Catholic diocese called on Catholics in the state to observe social distancing and other precautions this Christmas.
Bishop Robert Deeley said 2020 is a year for “a different Christmas” because of the coronavirus pandemic. He said he plans to stay home and celebrate live-streamed masses on Christmas morning at midnight and 10 a.m. this year.
Deeley said it’s a good year to “put more lights up outside the house but bring less people into the house.” He also encouraged the use of facial coverings in any gatherings that involve people from different households.
Deeley previously called on the state’s Catholics to use the coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available to them.
In other pandemic news:
THE NUMBERS
The latest average positivity rate in Maine is 5.84%. State health departments are calculating positivity rate differently across the country, but for Maine the AP calculates the rate by dividing new cases by test specimens using data from The COVID Tracking Project.
The 7-day rolling average of the positivity rate in Maine has risen over the past two weeks from 3.32% on Dec. 7 to 5.84% on Dec. 21.
Public health authorities in Maine have reported more than 19,000 cases of the virus in the state since the start of the pandemic.
—
UMAINE REOPENING
Officials with the University of Maine system said students will come back to campus for screenings on Jan. 19. A mix of in-person, hybrid and online classes will follow beginning on Jan. 25, officials said.
The state is supporting expanded testing with $8.15 million in federal coronavirus aid, officials said.
University system officials said residence halls will be open. Individual universities within the system will distribute details to students, faculty and staff members in the coming weeks, officials said.
“There is reason for optimism with the deployment of a safe and effective vaccine, but we expect to confront higher case counts in January than we did in August. We will respond with increased testing capacity,” system chancellor Dannel Malloy said.