westernjournal--2020-05-10--WHO Brushes Off Responsibility for Poor COVID Response: ‘The World Had Enough Time’

The World Health Organization defended its response to the coronavirus pandemic on May 1 and said that the “ world had enough time to intervene.
” In a media conference , WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that because a global health emergency had been declared on Jan. 30 , “ the world had enough time to intervene.
” At the time , there were only 82 cases of COVID-19 outside of China and no reported deaths .
“ To declare global emergency in that situation , I think it says it all .
It says it all , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his team had traveled to China immediately after the emergency declaration to learn more about it .
TRENDING : Media Lies at Work : As NY Deaths Go Up , So Do Cuomo 's Polls - As FL Deaths Go Down , So Do DeSantis ' Polls “ We didn ’ t waste any time , ” Tedros said .
“ I remember then people telling us , advising us not to travel to China because this virus is new , you don ’ t know how it behaves , you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we said , ‘ No , we go . '
” The WHO also declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11 when there were just 121,000 global cases , CNBC reported .
President Donald Trump has been a frequent critic of the World Health Organization ’ s response to the coronavirus pandemic and ceased voluntary funding from the United States .
“ Today , I ’ m instructing my administration to halt funding of the World Health Organization while a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organization ’ s role in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus .
Everybody knows what ’ s going on there , ” Trump said during a White House coronavirus task force briefing in April .
A senior administration official told The Daily Caller at the time the decision was made because the organization had failed to do its job .
“ WHO clearly failed to do its job , and continues to make serious mistakes that puts our nation ’ s safety and security at risk , including allowing the reopening of wet markets , ” the unnamed official said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It shouldn ’ t be controversial for the U.S. to want to partner with international organizations that will actually protect international health.
” In an interview with Sky News , Dr. Gauden Galea , a WHO representative in China , defended the organization ’ s early response .
RELATED : German Intel Service Says Tedros and Xi Worked Together To Hide Outbreak for Weeks : Report “ We only know what China is reporting to us at that period in time , ” he said .
He added that China “ will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 and Jan. 16 that there were only 41 cases in Wuhan .
“ Is it likely that there were only 41 cases for that period of time ?
I would think not , ” he said .
“ Is that a matter of difficulty in finding were they getting their act together , is it a question of definition ?
I can not speculate .
But it would have been during that period obviously some growth would have been happening.
” The WHO has come under fire for a Jan. 14 tweet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission.
” Galea said the WHO suspected there would be human-to-human transmission , but the cases reported and investigations did not confirm that .
As of Thursday morning , there are over 3.7 million cases of COVID-19 across the globe , according to Johns Hopkins .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The World Health Organization defended its response to the coronavirus pandemic on May 1 and said that the “world had enough time to intervene.”
In a media conference, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that because a global health emergency had been declared on Jan. 30, “the world had enough time to intervene.”
At the time, there were only 82 cases of COVID-19 outside of China and no reported deaths.
“To declare global emergency in that situation, I think it says it all. It says it all,” Tedros said.
He described how his team had traveled to China immediately after the emergency declaration to learn more about it.
“We didn’t waste any time,” Tedros said. “I remember then people telling us, advising us not to travel to China because this virus is new, you don’t know how it behaves, you’re putting your life at risk. And we said, ‘No, we go.'”
The WHO also declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11 when there were just 121,000 global cases, CNBC reported.
President Donald Trump has been a frequent critic of the World Health Organization’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and ceased voluntary funding from the United States.
Do you think the WHO inadequately addressed the coronavirus outbreak? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 88% (233 Votes) No: 12% (32 Votes)
“Today, I’m instructing my administration to halt funding of the World Health Organization while a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organization’s role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus. Everybody knows what’s going on there,” Trump said during a White House coronavirus task force briefing in April.
A senior administration official told The Daily Caller at the time the decision was made because the organization had failed to do its job.
“WHO clearly failed to do its job, and continues to make serious mistakes that puts our nation’s safety and security at risk, including allowing the reopening of wet markets,” the unnamed official said in a statement to the outlet.
“It shouldn’t be controversial for the U.S. to want to partner with international organizations that will actually protect international health.”
In an interview with Sky News, Dr. Gauden Galea, a WHO representative in China, defended the organization’s early response.
“We only know what China is reporting to us at that period in time,” he said.
He added that China “will have to answer for” claiming between Jan. 3 and Jan. 16 that there were only 41 cases in Wuhan.
“Is it likely that there were only 41 cases for that period of time? I would think not,” he said.
“Is that a matter of difficulty in finding were they getting their act together, is it a question of definition? I cannot speculate. But it would have been during that period obviously some growth would have been happening.”
The WHO has come under fire for a Jan. 14 tweet that read: “Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission.”
Galea said the WHO suspected there would be human-to-human transmission, but the cases reported and investigations did not confirm that.
As of Thursday morning, there are over 3.7 million cases of COVID-19 across the globe, according to Johns Hopkins.
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westernjournal--2020-05-10--Apparent Toilet Flush Heard During Supreme Court Teleconference Arguments

It was not exactly the shot heard ’ round the world , but it was a very familiar noise in a very unfamiliar setting that made ears sit up and listen before fingers began clicking to send tweets discussing the sound of a toilet being flushed during a Supreme Court session .
To set the stage : So that the business of the Supreme Court can continue amid current health concerns , oral arguments are being conducted via telephone .
The calls are livestreamed so that anyone who wishes can listen in .
On Wednesday , listeners were primed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case of Barr v. American Association of Political Consultants .
At issue is whether a federal law prohibiting robocalls to cellphones is in violation of the free speech protection of the First Amendment , according to The Washington Post .
The sessions are prefaced by an admonition from Chief Justice John Roberts to all involved to turn off cell phones .
The rules for these sessions are that lawyers who are calling in to argue a case go one at a time , with each having their phone line unmuted only when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN .
TRENDING : Media Lies at Work : As NY Deaths Go Up , So Do Cuomo 's Polls - As FL Deaths Go Down , So Do DeSantis ' Polls The arguments went on as normal until about 59 minutes into the call , when , as tweeted multiple times , a sound of what appeared to be a toilet flushing was heard .
The incident came as lawyer Roman Martinez , representing the American Association of Political Consultants , responded to a question from Justice Elena Kagan .
The Post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mentioned the sound , which does not appear in the official recording or transcript of the arguments .
However , the apparent flush launched an avalanche of tweets , some of which were in good taste : For those interested in a detective story about the noise , The Post reported that “ No one has owned up to the flush , if indeed it was a flush.
” “ It could have been anyone on the phone call , or someone near the phone of anyone on the call .
It might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a child .
It could have come from inside a bathroom ( let ’ s not go there ) or nearby a bathroom .
Fortunately , whatever sounds preceded the flush sound were imperceptible , ” the outlet added .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

It was not exactly the shot heard ’round the world, but it was a very familiar noise in a very unfamiliar setting that made ears sit up and listen before fingers began clicking to send tweets discussing the sound of a toilet being flushed during a Supreme Court session.
To set the stage: So that the business of the Supreme Court can continue amid current health concerns, oral arguments are being conducted via telephone. The calls are livestreamed so that anyone who wishes can listen in.
On Wednesday, listeners were primed and ready to hear the debate in the case of Barr v. American Association of Political Consultants. At issue is whether a federal law prohibiting robocalls to cellphones is in violation of the free speech protection of the First Amendment, according to The Washington Post.
The sessions are prefaced by an admonition from Chief Justice John Roberts to all involved to turn off cell phones.
The rules for these sessions are that lawyers who are calling in to argue a case go one at a time, with each having their phone line unmuted only when they are supposed to speak, according to CNN.
Do you think this was really the sound of a toilet flushing? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 84% (138 Votes) No: 16% (26 Votes)
The arguments went on as normal until about 59 minutes into the call, when, as tweeted multiple times, a sound of what appeared to be a toilet flushing was heard.
The incident came as lawyer Roman Martinez, representing the American Association of Political Consultants, responded to a question from Justice Elena Kagan.
LISTEN: Toilet flush during U.S. Supreme Court oral argument (h/t @nicninh) pic.twitter.com/He3QGMzvJI — Jeremy Art (@cspanJeremy) May 6, 2020
The Post reported that no one on the call mentioned the sound, which does not appear in the official recording or transcript of the arguments.
However, the apparent flush launched an avalanche of tweets, some of which were in good taste:
Years from now, whatever case was being argued in front of the Supreme Court when The Flush occurred will be included in legal textbooks as & known to students as “The Flushing Case.” — Jonathon Lance (@JonathonLance) May 8, 2020
If that undignified toilet flush kills the possibility of continuing audio broadcast of #SCOTUS oral arguments when this is over, we’ll need an investigation so I know whom to blame for not using their mute button. — Lindsay Wiley (@ProfLWiley) May 6, 2020
To be clear, the @FCC does not construe the flushing of a toilet immediately after counsel said “what the FCC has said” to reflect a substantive judgment of the Supreme Court, or of any Justice thereof, regarding an agency determination. #SCOTUS https://t.co/cghyBfn7rE — Ajit Pai (@AjitPaiFCC) May 6, 2020
I’m not sure why this needs to be said, but Flush-Gate is not in any way an indictment of live-streaming #SCOTUS arguments—at least once the Court is sitting again at One First Street. So far as I know, there are no toilets on the bench. — Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) May 6, 2020
The Supreme flush heard today is yet another first in the annals of Court history. Yet, to paraphrase Samuel Johnson, [Being a] “Justice is my being allowed to do whatever I like. Injustice is whatever prevents my doing so.”https://t.co/pPNhhIL7D0 — Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) May 6, 2020
For those interested in a detective story about the noise, The Post reported that “No one has owned up to the flush, if indeed it was a flush.”
“It could have been anyone on the phone call, or someone near the phone of anyone on the call. It might have been a spouse, or perhaps a child. It could have come from inside a bathroom (let’s not go there) or nearby a bathroom. Fortunately, whatever sounds preceded the flush sound were imperceptible,” the outlet added.
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westernjournal--2020-05-10--Irish Repay 173-Year-Old Gift from American Indian Tribe

The generosity of the impoverished Choctaw Native Americans in 1847 toward the Irish is being repaid by some Irish people today as the Navajo Nation battles COVID-19 .
The Navajo people have been hard hit by the disease .
As of Friday , there were 96 deaths and 2,876 confirmed coronavirus cases on Navajo Nation lands .
To help bring assistance to the Navajo people , as well as members of the Hopi tribe , volunteers have created a GoFundMe drive with a goal of $ 5 million .
As of Saturday , the campaign had raised more than $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is part of the team organizing the effort , wrote that some of the donations came from Ireland , and explained the story .
TRENDING : Media Lies at Work : As NY Deaths Go Up , So Do Cuomo 's Polls - As FL Deaths Go Down , So Do DeSantis ' Polls “ Several of our recent donations for our GoFundMe campaign have been inspired by the Great Hunger Famine in Ireland which started in 1845 , ” she wrote .
“ During this difficult time , in 1847 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aid to the Irish to help them ( today that is the equivalent of $ 5,000 ) .
Not long before the Great Hunger Famine in Ireland , 60,000 Native Americans , including the Choctaw people , had suffered through the experience of the Trail of Tears , ” Tulley added .
During this 1830s , the Choctaw were forcibly removed from their native lands .
“ The death of many people on the Trail of Tears sparked empathy for the Irish people in their time of need .
Thus , the Choctaw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Tulley wrote .
She noted that “ 173 years later to today , the favor is returned through generous donations from the Irish people to the Navajo Nation during our time of crisis .
“ A message from Irish donor , Pat Hayes , sent from Ireland across the ocean : ‘ From Ireland , 170 years later , the favour is returned !
To our Native American brothers and sisters in your moment of hardship . '
” Tulley said the needs of the Navajo people are deep .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so many of our sacred Navajo elders and youth to COVID-19 .
It is truly devastating .
And a dark time in history for our Nation .
In moments like these , we are so grateful for the love and support we have received from all around the world , ” she wrote .
“ Acts of kindness from indigenous ancestors passed being reciprocated nearly 200 years later through blood memory and interconnectedness .
Thank you , IRELAND , for showing solidarity and being here for us.
” RELATED : Land O'Lakes Removes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 Years The plight of the Navajo is made worse by the fact that about 30 percent of the Navajo Nation ’ s population does not have access to running water , according to CBS News .
“ Once it was brought to our attention just how many people were catching and dying from it — that ’ s when it hit home here in Dilkon .
All of a sudden , everybody is scared , ” said Maggie Barton of the Dilkon community .
“ We ’ re at the most southwestern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our needs are dire .
We feel like we ’ re forgotten at times , ” Barton said last week .
Dilkon ’ s two water trucks bring weekly water supplies to the elderly and those with transportation or health problems .
Both trucks are currently awaiting repairs .
“ They ’ ll have them repaired by next week , then we can start hauling water for the community again , ” Barton said , noting that 30 families depend on the trucks for their water .
“ If the trucks are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighbors to help them .
We ’ ll also take boxes of water out to them , ” she said .
George McGraw of DigDeep , a nonprofit that tries to address water access issues , said the day-to-day reality of the Navajo is unique in America .
“ Our clients wake up every morning and the first thing they think of is , ‘ Where am I going to get enough water today to survive ?
’ It ’ s a daily reality that revolves around your access to water and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” McGraw told CBS .
“ We ’ re trying to sustain our community , ” Barton said .
“ It ’ s important to be strong .
It ’ s essential for living out here.
” McGraw said the impact of COVID-19 has brought new attention to the unmet needs of the Navajo .
“ When it comes to COVID-19 , all we have is prevention .
We have no treatment , no vaccine .
You can do two things — wash your hands frequently and you can isolate yourself from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you don ’ t have running water at home , ” he said .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The generosity of the impoverished Choctaw Native Americans in 1847 toward the Irish is being repaid by some Irish people today as the Navajo Nation battles COVID-19.
The Navajo people have been hard hit by the disease. As of Friday, there were 96 deaths and 2,876 confirmed coronavirus cases on Navajo Nation lands.
To help bring assistance to the Navajo people, as well as members of the Hopi tribe, volunteers have created a GoFundMe drive with a goal of $5 million.
As of Saturday, the campaign had raised more than $3.3 million.
Vanessa Tulley, who is part of the team organizing the effort, wrote that some of the donations came from Ireland, and explained the story.
“Several of our recent donations for our GoFundMe campaign have been inspired by the Great Hunger Famine in Ireland which started in 1845,” she wrote.
“During this difficult time, in 1847, the Choctaw Nation provided $170 of relief aid to the Irish to help them (today that is the equivalent of $5,000). Not long before the Great Hunger Famine in Ireland, 60,000 Native Americans, including the Choctaw people, had suffered through the experience of the Trail of Tears,” Tulley added.
During this 1830s, the Choctaw were forcibly removed from their native lands.
“The death of many people on the Trail of Tears sparked empathy for the Irish people in their time of need. Thus, the Choctaw extended $170 of relief aid,” Tulley wrote.
She noted that “173 years later to today, the favor is returned through generous donations from the Irish people to the Navajo Nation during our time of crisis.
“A message from Irish donor, Pat Hayes, sent from Ireland across the ocean: ‘From Ireland, 170 years later, the favour is returned! To our Native American brothers and sisters in your moment of hardship.'”
Tulley said the needs of the Navajo people are deep.
“The heartache is real. We have lost so many of our sacred Navajo elders and youth to COVID-19. It is truly devastating. And a dark time in history for our Nation. In moments like these, we are so grateful for the love and support we have received from all around the world,” she wrote.
“Acts of kindness from indigenous ancestors passed being reciprocated nearly 200 years later through blood memory and interconnectedness. Thank you, IRELAND, for showing solidarity and being here for us.”
The plight of the Navajo is made worse by the fact that about 30 percent of the Navajo Nation’s population does not have access to running water, according to CBS News.
“Once it was brought to our attention just how many people were catching and dying from it — that’s when it hit home here in Dilkon. All of a sudden, everybody is scared,” said Maggie Barton of the Dilkon community.
“We’re at the most southwestern portion of the Navajo Nation, and our needs are dire. We feel like we’re forgotten at times,” Barton said last week.
Dilkon’s two water trucks bring weekly water supplies to the elderly and those with transportation or health problems. Both trucks are currently awaiting repairs.
“They’ll have them repaired by next week, then we can start hauling water for the community again,” Barton said, noting that 30 families depend on the trucks for their water.
“If the trucks are not running, we ask community members and neighbors to help them. We’ll also take boxes of water out to them,” she said.
George McGraw of DigDeep, a nonprofit that tries to address water access issues, said the day-to-day reality of the Navajo is unique in America.
“Our clients wake up every morning and the first thing they think of is, ‘Where am I going to get enough water today to survive?’ It’s a daily reality that revolves around your access to water and a reality that most Americans cannot comprehend,” McGraw told CBS.
“We’re trying to sustain our community,” Barton said. “It’s important to be strong. It’s essential for living out here.”
McGraw said the impact of COVID-19 has brought new attention to the unmet needs of the Navajo.
“When it comes to COVID-19, all we have is prevention. We have no treatment, no vaccine. You can do two things — wash your hands frequently and you can isolate yourself from other people. Neither is possible if you don’t have running water at home,” he said.
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westernjournal--2020-05-10--Los Angeles May ‘Commandeer’ Hotels Not Complying with Plan To House Homeless

It ’ s not a great time to be a hotelier anywhere , but it ’ s especially bad in Los Angeles .
It isn ’ t just that the city ’ s normally bustling tourist economy is taking a hit from the coronavirus crisis .
It ’ s also that there ’ s a major homeless problem there — and that , due to the coronavirus pandemic , officials are looking for a solution from the hotel industry .
One of solutions is a program of the county and city of Los Angeles called Project Roomkey , where hotel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the county ’ s website , the hotels “ provide temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness who are not COVID-19 positive or symptomatic , but are vulnerable to complications should they become infected with COVID-19.
” “ The County has partnered with hotel associations to identify sites that meet the operational needs of the program .
Hundreds of properties have been explored and contacted , ” the website states .
But not enough have said yes , apparently .
TRENDING : Media Lies at Work : As NY Deaths Go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - As FL Deaths Go Down , So Do DeSantis ' Polls According to KTTV-TV , while the city of Los Angeles has been looking to house 15,000 homeless through the partnerships , it ’ s only been able to place 1,582 in Project Roomkey locations .
So now , at least one city council member is looking to “ commandeer ” rooms from hotels that don ’ t willingly allow homeless individuals to stay there .
“ If hotels are making a distinction among people classifying housed and unhoused differently in terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be repaid for , that the city and county will pay for with reimbursements , then I think there ’ s a potential civil rights violation , ” Councilman Mike Bonin said at a Wednesday meeting , KTTV reported .
“ If the problems are on the hotel end , the public should know why , and then we should consider commandeering as they ’ ve talked about in other cities.
” For right now , the city isn ’ t going to do that .
Instead , the city council voted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to participate in the program and see if they ’ ve received tax breaks .
“ It would seem to me to be a complete justification that we expect something back , especially during an emergency , ” Councilman Mitch O ’ Farrel said , according to KTTV .
However , if Los Angeles decides it wants to go the way of “ commandeering ” private property , the dean of ( of course ) Berkeley Law at the University of California Berkeley says it ’ s legally feasible .
“ If the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to house the homeless , the city , I think , will be able to do that , ” Dean Erwin Chemerinsky told KTTV .
“ The Constitution says that the government can take private property for public use so long as it pays just compensation , the city , therefore , could commandeer a hotel for the homeless , but I think that would be confiscating for a period of time , and the government would have to compensate the hotel owners.
” If the city council is playing the bad cop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garcetti is playing the good cop .
RELATED : CA County Now Using COVID To Dictate How & Where People Can Drive “ Each hotel brings new hope , each room could save a life , ” Garcetti said , according to KABC-TV .
“ Hotel and motel operators are ambassadors of the Angeleno spirit.
” However , bad cop Councilman Bonin says that , you know , if you don ’ t want to be ambassadors of the Angeleno spirit , he ’ s willing to make you be an ambassador .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hotels should be exempt from Project Roomkey , ” Bonin said , according to KABC .
“ As we look to hotels to step up , those that have benefited from public investment and public largess — those are the first that we should be looking towards.
” That includes the famous Ritz-Carlton — a hotel that ’ s is part of L.A. LIVE , a complex that signed on to receive $ 270 million in financial incentives from the city over a 25-year period in 2005 , according to a 2018 report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Ritz-Carlton is private property and demanding access to it in exchange for money is cronyism , plain and simple .
However , the city is also demanding access to rooms in a hotel that houses 224 condominium units .
The homeowner ’ s association says it will be fighting participation in Project Roomkey based on concerns regarding safety , health and property values .
“ Aside from the logistical concerns , safety concerns , there are families that live down there with children , ” said John Satterfield , who owns two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ KABC .
“ I don ’ t actually trust how they ’ re going to control it.
” “ We were all shocked and offended when we found out this might be a possibility , ” said Art Avaness , broker and owner of Re/Max in Downtown Los Angeles , according to KTTV .
“ In theory it ’ s a great idea , I support the program .
But in practice , specifically for this property , it just isn ’ t , because you want to house hundreds of homeless people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the same building with 224 homeowners ?
Having it in your own home basically is just a little too much , in fact , it ’ s offensive.
” “ Average price for a one-bedroom is about a million bucks , ” Avaness said .
according to KABC .
“ Minimum , $ 1 million and goes all the way up to $ 40 , $ 42 million.
” If Los Angeles provides proper remuneration for these units , it ’ d be an incredible waste of taxpayer money and an infringement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mind , this isn ’ t just Los Angeles ’ money ; the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be reimbursing the hotels for 75 percent of the cost , KABC reported .
If the city doesn ’ t provide proper remuneration , it ’ s basically going to be forcing one of the most exclusive properties in the world to give it rooms at a massive discount because the city once gave tax breaks to the property ’ s owners .
And that ’ s what other property owners can expect , tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to be on Los Angeles ’ terms .
Anyone who thinks it won ’ t be is a fool .
You can listen to good cop Garcetti about how this is about being better Angelenos or listen to the bad cops on the city council about how , if you don ’ t cooperate , they ’ ll make you cooperate — or else it ’ ll be termed a civil rights violation .
The homelessness in Los Angeles is , among other things , a failure of state and local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t solve the government ’ s problems is part of the problem in California , not part of the solution .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

It’s not a great time to be a hotelier anywhere, but it’s especially bad in Los Angeles.
It isn’t just that the city’s normally bustling tourist economy is taking a hit from the coronavirus crisis. It’s also that there’s a major homeless problem there — and that, due to the coronavirus pandemic, officials are looking for a solution from the hotel industry.
One of solutions is a program of the county and city of Los Angeles called Project Roomkey, where hotel rooms are used to house the homeless. According to the county’s website, the hotels “provide temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness who are not COVID-19 positive or symptomatic, but are vulnerable to complications should they become infected with COVID-19.”
“The County has partnered with hotel associations to identify sites that meet the operational needs of the program. Hundreds of properties have been explored and contacted,” the website states.
But not enough have said yes, apparently.
According to KTTV-TV, while the city of Los Angeles has been looking to house 15,000 homeless through the partnerships, it’s only been able to place 1,582 in Project Roomkey locations. So now, at least one city council member is looking to “commandeer” rooms from hotels that don’t willingly allow homeless individuals to stay there.
“If hotels are making a distinction among people classifying housed and unhoused differently in terms of accommodations that they’re going to be repaid for, that the city and county will pay for with reimbursements, then I think there’s a potential civil rights violation,” Councilman Mike Bonin said at a Wednesday meeting, KTTV reported.
“If the problems are on the hotel end, the public should know why, and then we should consider commandeering as they’ve talked about in other cities.”
For right now, the city isn’t going to do that. Instead, the city council voted to identify any hotels that have refused to participate in the program and see if they’ve received tax breaks.
Should a government be able to commandeer hotel rooms for the homeless? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 2% (50 Votes) No: 98% (2894 Votes)
“It would seem to me to be a complete justification that we expect something back, especially during an emergency,” Councilman Mitch O’ Farrel said, according to KTTV.
However, if Los Angeles decides it wants to go the way of “commandeering” private property, the dean of (of course) Berkeley Law at the University of California Berkeley says it’s legally feasible.
“If the city decides it needs to take hotels to house the homeless, the city, I think, will be able to do that,” Dean Erwin Chemerinsky told KTTV.
“The Constitution says that the government can take private property for public use so long as it pays just compensation, the city, therefore, could commandeer a hotel for the homeless, but I think that would be confiscating for a period of time, and the government would have to compensate the hotel owners.”
If the city council is playing the bad cop, meanwhile, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is playing the good cop.
“Each hotel brings new hope, each room could save a life,” Garcetti said, according to KABC-TV.
“Hotel and motel operators are ambassadors of the Angeleno spirit.”
However, bad cop Councilman Bonin says that, you know, if you don’t want to be ambassadors of the Angeleno spirit, he’s willing to make you be an ambassador.
“I don’t think fancy hotels should be exempt from Project Roomkey,” Bonin said, according to KABC. “As we look to hotels to step up, those that have benefited from public investment and public largess — those are the first that we should be looking towards.”
That includes the famous Ritz-Carlton — a hotel that’s is part of L.A. LIVE, a complex that signed on to receive $270 million in financial incentives from the city over a 25-year period in 2005, according to a 2018 report from the Los Angeles city controller.
The Ritz-Carlton is private property and demanding access to it in exchange for money is cronyism, plain and simple. However, the city is also demanding access to rooms in a hotel that houses 224 condominium units.
The homeowner’s association says it will be fighting participation in Project Roomkey based on concerns regarding safety, health and property values.
“Aside from the logistical concerns, safety concerns, there are families that live down there with children,” said John Satterfield, who owns two units in the building, according to KABC. “I don’t actually trust how they’re going to control it.”
“We were all shocked and offended when we found out this might be a possibility,” said Art Avaness, broker and owner of Re/Max in Downtown Los Angeles, according to KTTV.
“In theory it’s a great idea, I support the program. But in practice, specifically for this property, it just isn’t, because you want to house hundreds of homeless people in a structure that’s literally in the same building with 224 homeowners? Having it in your own home basically is just a little too much, in fact, it’s offensive.”
“Average price for a one-bedroom is about a million bucks,” Avaness said. according to KABC. “Minimum, $1 million and goes all the way up to $40, $42 million.”
“Imagine spending millions of dollars to buy one of the luxurious Ritz-Carlton residences in downtown Los Angeles only to learn you may soon be sharing space with the homeless.”https://t.co/tLhewlqpD9
I just did and submitted it as a sitcom spec! — Kevin Dayton (@DaytonPubPolicy) May 5, 2020
If Los Angeles provides proper remuneration for these units, it’d be an incredible waste of taxpayer money and an infringement upon private property. And keep in mind, this isn’t just Los Angeles’ money; the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be reimbursing the hotels for 75 percent of the cost, KABC reported.
If the city doesn’t provide proper remuneration, it’s basically going to be forcing one of the most exclusive properties in the world to give it rooms at a massive discount because the city once gave tax breaks to the property’s owners.
And that’s what other property owners can expect, tax breaks or no tax breaks. This is going to be on Los Angeles’ terms. Anyone who thinks it won’t be is a fool. You can listen to good cop Garcetti about how this is about being better Angelenos or listen to the bad cops on the city council about how, if you don’t cooperate, they’ll make you cooperate — or else it’ll be termed a civil rights violation.
The homelessness in Los Angeles is, among other things, a failure of state and local government. Shaming property owners because they won’t solve the government’s problems is part of the problem in California, not part of the solution.
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westernjournal--2020-05-10--Dem Illinois Gov Crosses the Line, May Be Restricting Churches for Over a Year

How long can a government suspend the right to freedom of worship because of the coronavirus ?
Under Illinois Democrat Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s reopening plan , a year or more .
That ’ s , at least , the likelihood created by the five-phase plan unveiled by the governor called Restore Illinois .
“ We have to figure out how to live with COVID-19 until it can be vanquished – and to do so in a way that best supports our residents ’ health and our health care systems , and saves the most lives , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Restore Illinois is a five-phase plan for lifting the stay-at-home order Illinois is under .
The state is currently at phase two — past the first phase , where only essential businesses are allowed to stay open , but where businesses can only offer curbside pickup and delivery and residents must wear face coverings .
It ’ s not until phase three that gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed and gatherings of up to 50 people are allowed at phase 4 .
Finally , when phase five — dubbed “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can have gatherings in whatever size you see fit .
TRENDING : Media Lies at Work : As NY Deaths Go Up , So Do Cuomo 's Polls - As FL Deaths Go Down , So Do DeSantis ' Polls So what ’ s it take to get to phase five of Restore Illinois ?
“ With a vaccine or highly effective treatment widely available or the elimination of any new cases over a sustained period , the economy fully reopens with safety precautions continuing , ” the plan states .
Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to churches at his media briefing on Thursday and gave the usual mic-drop answer to the whole thing , which is that a ) of course and b ) this is the scientists talking .
“ You know that in phase three , there can be gatherings , church gatherings , of 10 or fewer .
In phase four , 50 or fewer .
So that ’ s the guidance that ’ s been given to me , ” Pritzker said .
“ I ’ m not the one providing that guidance .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ epidemiologists are recommending.
” Don ’ t talk to him , talk to the experts .
And you don ’ t want to talk back to the experts , do you ?
Next question ?
The problem here is that , unlike your July 4th BBQ shindig , your ability to meet for worship services has some level of protection under the First Amendment , which guarantees in very specific language the free exercise of religion .
So what , then , are we to make about a timeline that sounds like it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 50 souls for over a year ?
And make no mistake , that ’ s really what he ’ s saying here .
A solution via vaccine , at least if one is to listen to Dr. Anthony Fauci , head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , could be a while off .
He told NBC ’ s “ Today ” on April 30 that it was “ in the realm of possibility ” to have millions of doses of vaccine ready by January .
RELATED : Illinois @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Not To Bail Out State 's 'Failed System' In early March , Fauci predicted before a Senate hearing it could take a bit longer , saying that 12 to 18 months may be a reasonable estimate , according to The Washington Post .
“ If you don ’ t have the production capacity to make tens and tens of millions of doses , it may take even longer , ” he added .
So far , there isn ’ t a universally accepted treatment outside of a vaccine , not that stops people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and antimalarial drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have been the most promising drugs in trials and neither comes close to providing the results that would land most of Illinois in phase five .
So what then ?
The COVID-19 disease , it ’ s clear , in short , isn ’ t going anywhere soon .
It ’ s also unlikely there will be any effective treatment found that will lead to an elimination of cases for an undefined “ sustained period ” in any reasonably populous area of the state .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there won ’ t ever be this kind of effective treatment for COVID-19 .
The problem , then , is that we ’ ve seldom seen the right to worship suspended indefinitely in any situation .
Realistically , under Pritzker ’ s plan , we ’ re looking at over a year before more than 50 people can meet for a worship service — if even then .
And as always , this is the epidemiologists and scientists who are providing the evidence for declaring in-person church services verboten .
Funny how this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a D after their name .
When abrogating basic constitutional rights , however , the burden of proof is on those epidemiologists and scientists .
We may be in a situation of uncertainty , one where meeting in person in groups of over 50 is unwise .
If that basic right is being taken away from us , however , we need to be told why it ’ s being taken away .
We need evidence that churches can ’ t socially distance in numbers of more than 50 people — an arbitrary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The governor throwing up his hands and abdicating his role as the guarantor of the basic rights his citizens have under the Constitution and reducing worship to a mere social gathering , allowed only at the whims of experts , is deeply disturbing .
This isn ’ t to say it ’ s wise for churches to meet in person and it isn ’ t to say that it ’ s advisable .
It ’ s to say it ’ s their right .
Courts are agreeing .
In Kentucky , federal judges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Andy Beshear ’ s restriction on in-person services .
“ We are a relatively young nation .
But our Constitution is the oldest in the world .
We describe it as enduring— a value that must be protected not only when it is easy but when it is hard , ” United State District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove wrote in a ruling late last week , according to WBKO-TV .
“ The church involved in the lawsuit , he continued “ wants to gather for corporate worship .
They want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ belief about what it means to be a faithful Christian .
For them , it is ‘ essential ’ that they do so .
And they want to invoke the Constitution ’ s protection on this point .
“ But the governor , by executive order , has put a stop to that .
He can do that , but he must have a compelling reason for using his authority to limit a citizen ’ s right to freely exercise something we value greatly — the right of every American to follow their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite an honest motive , it does not appear at this preliminary stage that reason exists.
” It ’ s safe to say the judge is an expert too , albeit of a different sort .
If states can ’ t figure out a way to expeditiously open churches while following social distancing guidelines , he ’ s the type of expert who we ’ re going to be hearing a lot from over the days and weeks ahead — and one perfervidly hopes they ’ ll have has much respect for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Gov .
Pritzker clearly doesn ’ t .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

How long can a government suspend the right to freedom of worship because of the coronavirus? Under Illinois Democrat Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s reopening plan, a year or more.
That’s, at least, the likelihood created by the five-phase plan unveiled by the governor called Restore Illinois.
“We have to figure out how to live with COVID-19 until it can be vanquished – and to do so in a way that best supports our residents’ health and our health care systems, and saves the most lives,” Pritzker said Tuesday, according to WMAQ-TV.
Restore Illinois is a five-phase plan for lifting the stay-at-home order Illinois is under. The state is currently at phase two — past the first phase, where only essential businesses are allowed to stay open, but where businesses can only offer curbside pickup and delivery and residents must wear face coverings.
It’s not until phase three that gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed and gatherings of up to 50 people are allowed at phase 4. Finally, when phase five — dubbed “Illinois Restored” — arrives, you can have gatherings in whatever size you see fit.
So what’s it take to get to phase five of Restore Illinois? “With a vaccine or highly effective treatment widely available or the elimination of any new cases over a sustained period, the economy fully reopens with safety precautions continuing,” the plan states.
Gov. Pritzker was asked about whether this applied to churches at his media briefing on Thursday and gave the usual mic-drop answer to the whole thing, which is that a) of course and b) this is the scientists talking.
“You know that in phase three, there can be gatherings, church gatherings, of 10 or fewer. In phase four, 50 or fewer. So that’s the guidance that’s been given to me,” Pritzker said.
“I’m not the one providing that guidance. It really is what the scientists and epidemiologists are recommending.”
Don’t talk to him, talk to the experts. And you don’t want to talk back to the experts, do you? Next question?
The problem here is that, unlike your July 4th BBQ shindig, your ability to meet for worship services has some level of protection under the First Amendment, which guarantees in very specific language the free exercise of religion. So what, then, are we to make about a timeline that sounds like it would allow no in-person services of more than 50 souls for over a year?
And make no mistake, that’s really what he’s saying here.
A solution via vaccine, at least if one is to listen to Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, could be a while off.
He told NBC’s “Today” on April 30 that it was “in the realm of possibility” to have millions of doses of vaccine ready by January.
Coronavirus vaccine by January is ‘doable,’ Dr. Fauci sayshttps://t.co/tpjPqT2JAN — TODAY (@TODAYshow) April 30, 2020
In early March, Fauci predicted before a Senate hearing it could take a bit longer, saying that 12 to 18 months may be a reasonable estimate, according to The Washington Post.
“If you don’t have the production capacity to make tens and tens of millions of doses, it may take even longer,” he added.
So far, there isn’t a universally accepted treatment outside of a vaccine, not that stops people from dying. The antiviral drug remdesivir and antimalarial drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have been the most promising drugs in trials and neither comes close to providing the results that would land most of Illinois in phase five. So what then?
The COVID-19 disease, it’s clear, in short, isn’t going anywhere soon. It’s also unlikely there will be any effective treatment found that will lead to an elimination of cases for an undefined “sustained period” in any reasonably populous area of the state. It’s possible to imagine a world where there won’t ever be this kind of effective treatment for COVID-19.
Are bans on in-person church services going too far? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 99% (1356 Votes) No: 1% (16 Votes)
The problem, then, is that we’ve seldom seen the right to worship suspended indefinitely in any situation. Realistically, under Pritzker’s plan, we’re looking at over a year before more than 50 people can meet for a worship service — if even then.
And as always, this is the epidemiologists and scientists who are providing the evidence for declaring in-person church services verboten. Funny how this seems to happen when the governors have a D after their name.
When abrogating basic constitutional rights, however, the burden of proof is on those epidemiologists and scientists. We may be in a situation of uncertainty, one where meeting in person in groups of over 50 is unwise.
If that basic right is being taken away from us, however, we need to be told why it’s being taken away. We need evidence that churches can’t socially distance in numbers of more than 50 people — an arbitrary number if there ever was one.
The governor throwing up his hands and abdicating his role as the guarantor of the basic rights his citizens have under the Constitution and reducing worship to a mere social gathering, allowed only at the whims of experts, is deeply disturbing.
This isn’t to say it’s wise for churches to meet in person and it isn’t to say that it’s advisable. It’s to say it’s their right. Courts are agreeing. In Kentucky, federal judges have already issued rulings going against Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s restriction on in-person services.
“We are a relatively young nation. But our Constitution is the oldest in the world. We describe it as enduring— a value that must be protected not only when it is easy but when it is hard,” United State District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove wrote in a ruling late last week, according to WBKO-TV.
“The church involved in the lawsuit, he continued “wants to gather for corporate worship. They want to freely exercise their deeply held religious belief about what it means to be a faithful Christian. For them, it is ‘essential’ that they do so. And they want to invoke the Constitution’s protection on this point.
“But the governor, by executive order, has put a stop to that. He can do that, but he must have a compelling reason for using his authority to limit a citizen’s right to freely exercise something we value greatly — the right of every American to follow their conscience on matters related to religion … despite an honest motive, it does not appear at this preliminary stage that reason exists.”
It’s safe to say the judge is an expert too, albeit of a different sort. If states can’t figure out a way to expeditiously open churches while following social distancing guidelines, he’s the type of expert who we’re going to be hearing a lot from over the days and weeks ahead — and one perfervidly hopes they’ll have has much respect for the constitution as Judge Van Tatenhove had, and Gov. Pritzker clearly doesn’t.
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westernjournal--2020-05-10--The Deep State Didn’t Start with Donald Trump

The term “ Deep State ” has become quite popular during the Trump years , only because of how these entrenched government networks have been exposed by the conservative media and by President Donald Trump himself .
It refers to cabals of long-time government bureaucrats and officials who are part of the permanent political establishment .
These informal networks may also include well-connected Capitol Hill staff , influential political consultants , and leaders of leftist activist groups and foundations .
Of course , there is no formal membership .
Rather , such networks are held together by common ideology and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their power and influence regardless of which party controls the White House and are imbued with an arrogant “ We know what ’ s best for America ” attitude .
They regard themselves as the “ real government ” and consider most elected officials as ignorant , bothersome obstacles .
Oftentimes , they operate in secret and many at one time may have been political appointees , but once someone hostile occupies the White House , they shift into protected Civil Service positions to maintain power and influence .
They usually have establishment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Democrat politicians than Republican ones .
Their ideology is on the left — and they are scornful of conservatives .
More specifically , those who hold this ideology typically favor subverting U.S. interests to international entities such as the United Nations and the International Criminal Court and support treaties and agreements that put the U.S. at a disadvantage .
Examples of this would be the Iranian nuclear deal , the Kyoto global warming treaty and many of the so-called “ free trade ” deals .
TRENDING : Media Lies at Work : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Do Cuomo 's Polls - As FL Deaths Go Down , So Do DeSantis ' Polls This globalist mentality stems from a belief that America was founded upon malevolent motivations and obtained its wealth and power immorally ; thus America ’ s influence must be checked by international institutions and treaties whenever possible .
These globalists detest the “ America First ” attitude and will do whatever is necessary to subvert that concept .
They are mostly socialists .
The classic examples of Deep Staters from recent headlines are former Obama appointees John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , all of whom played key roles in the Russian collusion hoax but also have deep Marxist influences in their backgrounds as documented in Diana West ’ s book “ The Red Thread : A Search for ideological Drivers inside the Anti-Trump Conspiracy.
” Deep Staters always claim to be defenders of the Constitution but in reality are hostile to the ideas of limited government , national sovereignty , a strong military and much of the Bill of Rights — especially the 1st and 2nd Amendments — since they believe such rights will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and scope of the federal government .
Deep State members are commonly involved in unethical or illegal activity , and they have assisted liberal presidents to carry out such activity — or , at the very least , helped conceal it .
Indeed , Deep Staters have no problem working with foreign intelligence operatives to achieve their aims .
We know , for example , that the group of Obama appointees who initiated the Russian collusion hoax worked with a former British intelligence officer to assemble a dossier full of phony intel fed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Putin and by a “ top level Russian intelligence officer.
” Moreover , we know that this same Deep State network collaborated with intelligence sources in Italy and Australia as well .
All of this was directed toward , at first , the defeat of Donald Trump in 2016 and then , post-election , his removal .
The reason , of course , is that Trump , an avowed American-Firster , posed the greatest threat ever to these entrenched Deep State networks .
In an earlier era , such activity would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often play a role in enriching their ideological leaders .
Sometimes they will organize foundations staffed with former high-ranking government officials who then hit up nations and multi-nationals for money on the premise that , once back in power , they will carry out policies beneficial to them .
( The Clinton Foundation is the perfect model here , but there are other such foundations . )
RELATED : Dick Morris : Four Senators Put Their Greed First Another favorite Deep State tactic is to get the children of its leaders appointed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controlled or deeply influenced by U.S. foreign policy or recipients of U.S. foreign assistance .
These children will then become wealthy and pour money back into the Deep State network .
The classic example of this is Hunter Biden ’ s board appointments and involvement with corporations in Ukraine , China and elsewhere that engaged in activity Hunter had zero background in — all while his father was vice president .
It is also common for Deep Staters to get their children appointed to domestic highly paid corporate boards .
A classic example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the board of IAC/InterActiveCorp , a media and internet investment company .
Since 2011 , she has reaped $ 9 million from this company , even though she has no background in media investments .
Not surprisingly , this company is controlled by Barry Diller , a close associate of Hillary Clinton .
The Biden , Clinton , Kerry , Obama and Romney families , just to name a few examples , are the beneficiaries of these and other enrichment schemes exposed by Peter Schweizer ’ s books , namely , “ Profiles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Indeed , many believe the main reason why the political establishment detest Trump and want to remove him from office is because he ’ s the first president in history to expose this corruption .
Finally , it should be noted that Deep Staters are hardly ever held accountable for their actions due to their ability to conceal their illegal activity , the contacts they maintain within the Department of Justice and the incompetence of congressional oversight committees .
In an earlier American Spectator article , I compared how Democrats handled GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with how the Republicans responded to the half-dozen scandals involving Barack Obama , such as using the IRS to suppress the Tea Party movement in order to ensure his re-election : “ Between Watergate and Contra gate , Democrats charged 83 Republicans with criminal conduct .
Today , Republicans have not held even one Democrat accountable for the high crimes committed by the Obama Administration.
” Perhaps that will change this summer , but don ’ t hold your breath .
This Op-Ed is Part I of a multi-part series on the Deep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Baldwin .
The second part will appear on The Western Journal on May 14 .
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The term “Deep State” has become quite popular during the Trump years, only because of how these entrenched government networks have been exposed by the conservative media and by President Donald Trump himself. It refers to cabals of long-time government bureaucrats and officials who are part of the permanent political establishment.
These informal networks may also include well-connected Capitol Hill staff, influential political consultants, and leaders of leftist activist groups and foundations.
Of course, there is no formal membership. Rather, such networks are held together by common ideology and interests.
They have sought to maintain their power and influence regardless of which party controls the White House and are imbued with an arrogant “We know what’s best for America” attitude. They regard themselves as the “real government” and consider most elected officials as ignorant, bothersome obstacles. Oftentimes, they operate in secret and many at one time may have been political appointees, but once someone hostile occupies the White House, they shift into protected Civil Service positions to maintain power and influence. They usually have establishment media allies and are far more connected to Democrat politicians than Republican ones.
Their ideology is on the left — and they are scornful of conservatives. More specifically, those who hold this ideology typically favor subverting U.S. interests to international entities such as the United Nations and the International Criminal Court and support treaties and agreements that put the U.S. at a disadvantage. Examples of this would be the Iranian nuclear deal, the Kyoto global warming treaty and many of the so-called “free trade” deals.
This globalist mentality stems from a belief that America was founded upon malevolent motivations and obtained its wealth and power immorally; thus America’s influence must be checked by international institutions and treaties whenever possible.
These globalists detest the “America First” attitude and will do whatever is necessary to subvert that concept. They are mostly socialists.
The classic examples of Deep Staters from recent headlines are former Obama appointees John Brennan, Nellie Ohr and James Comey, all of whom played key roles in the Russian collusion hoax but also have deep Marxist influences in their backgrounds as documented in Diana West’s book “The Red Thread: A Search for ideological Drivers inside the Anti-Trump Conspiracy.”
Deep Staters always claim to be defenders of the Constitution but in reality are hostile to the ideas of limited government, national sovereignty, a strong military and much of the Bill of Rights — especially the 1st and 2nd Amendments — since they believe such rights will inhibit their efforts to increase the power and scope of the federal government.
Do you believe the Deep State is aligned against Donald Trump? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 99% (2169 Votes) No: 1% (23 Votes)
Deep State members are commonly involved in unethical or illegal activity, and they have assisted liberal presidents to carry out such activity — or, at the very least, helped conceal it. Indeed, Deep Staters have no problem working with foreign intelligence operatives to achieve their aims.
We know, for example, that the group of Obama appointees who initiated the Russian collusion hoax worked with a former British intelligence officer to assemble a dossier full of phony intel fed to him by Russians with close ties to Putin and by a “top level Russian intelligence officer.” Moreover, we know that this same Deep State network collaborated with intelligence sources in Italy and Australia as well.
All of this was directed toward, at first, the defeat of Donald Trump in 2016 and then, post-election, his removal. The reason, of course, is that Trump, an avowed American-Firster, posed the greatest threat ever to these entrenched Deep State networks.
In an earlier era, such activity would be considered treasonous.
The Deep State networks often play a role in enriching their ideological leaders. Sometimes they will organize foundations staffed with former high-ranking government officials who then hit up nations and multi-nationals for money on the premise that, once back in power, they will carry out policies beneficial to them. (The Clinton Foundation is the perfect model here, but there are other such foundations.)
Another favorite Deep State tactic is to get the children of its leaders appointed to the boards of foreign companies which are controlled or deeply influenced by U.S. foreign policy or recipients of U.S. foreign assistance. These children will then become wealthy and pour money back into the Deep State network. The classic example of this is Hunter Biden’s board appointments and involvement with corporations in Ukraine, China and elsewhere that engaged in activity Hunter had zero background in — all while his father was vice president.
It is also common for Deep Staters to get their children appointed to domestic highly paid corporate boards. A classic example is the appointment of Chelsea Clinton to the board of IAC/InterActiveCorp, a media and internet investment company. Since 2011, she has reaped $9 million from this company, even though she has no background in media investments. Not surprisingly, this company is controlled by Barry Diller, a close associate of Hillary Clinton.
The Biden, Clinton, Kerry, Obama and Romney families, just to name a few examples, are the beneficiaries of these and other enrichment schemes exposed by Peter Schweizer’s books, namely, “Profiles in Corruption” and “Secret Empires.” Indeed, many believe the main reason why the political establishment detest Trump and want to remove him from office is because he’s the first president in history to expose this corruption.
Finally, it should be noted that Deep Staters are hardly ever held accountable for their actions due to their ability to conceal their illegal activity, the contacts they maintain within the Department of Justice and the incompetence of congressional oversight committees.
In an earlier American Spectator article, I compared how Democrats handled GOP scandals, specifically Contra-gate and Watergate, with how the Republicans responded to the half-dozen scandals involving Barack Obama, such as using the IRS to suppress the Tea Party movement in order to ensure his re-election:
“Between Watergate and Contra gate, Democrats charged 83 Republicans with criminal conduct. Today, Republicans have not held even one Democrat accountable for the high crimes committed by the Obama Administration.”
Perhaps that will change this summer, but don’t hold your breath.
This Op-Ed is Part I of a multi-part series on the Deep State by former California state assemblyman Steve Baldwin. The second part will appear on The Western Journal on May 24.
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website. If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal, you can learn about our submission guidelines and process here.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-05-11--Future of School Choice for Americans in Balance with Case Before Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is poised to hand down a ruling regarding state K-12 tuition assistance programs that could have major implications , particularly for lower-income Americans who want their children to attend religious or other non-public schools .
Fox News reported that justices appeared “ closely split ” during oral arguments for Espinoza v. Montana Dept .
of Revenue in January .
The case centers on a law passed in 2015 that allows Montanans to receive a $ 150 tax credit for donations made to private scholarship organizations .
The organizations then turn around and award scholarships to those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families .
The amounts vary , but can equal part or all the cost of a full year of tuition at the private school of the recipient ’ s choice .
TRENDING : Media Lies at Work : As NY Deaths Go Up , So Do Cuomo 's Polls - As FL Deaths Go Down , So Do DeSantis ' Polls Eighteen states have various forms of tax-credit scholarship programs , according to EdChoice .
The Montana law allowed parents to choose any private school to apply the scholarship toward , including religious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enacted the Montana Department of Revenue put in place an administrative rule that precluded scholarship recipients from using “ their scholarships at religious schools , ” according to the Supreme Court petition .
( Page 6 . )
The department relied on the Montana constitution ’ s so-called “ Blaine amendment , ” which prohibits , “ direct or indirect appropriation or payment from any public fund or monies .
.
.
for any sectarian purpose or to aid any church , school , academy , seminary , college , university , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in whole or in part by any church , sect , or denomination.
” The Arlington , Virginia-based libertarian group Institute for Justice is representing school choice activist Kendra Espinoza and the other plaintiffs in the case .
In a YouTube video produced by the institute , counsel Erica Smith explained that 37 states have Blaine amendments .
However , of those about 14 have ones “ that are actively standing in the way of school choice , ” because of how they have been interpreted by courts in those states , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the video .
In an interview with The Western Journal , David Hodges , a co-counsel on the Espinoza case , said the issue is parental choice .
“ This case is about whether the religion clauses [ like those found in Blaine amendments ] …can invalidate generally available and religiously neutral student aid programs , just because the program gave the choice of attending a religious school , ” David Hodges , a co-counsel in the Espinoza case with the Institute for Justice , told The Western Journal .
Blaine amendments were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the late 1800s , after a drive led by then-Rep. John Blaine of Wisconsin to amend the Constitution at the national level fell short .
RELATED : 'The Squad ' Pushes for Huge Student Loan Cancellation in Next Relief Bill The amendments were understood as a way to block tax dollars from going toward Catholic schools .
“ Consideration of the amendment arose at a time of pervasive hostility to the Catholic Church and to Catholics in general , and it was an open secret that ‘ sectarian ’ was code for ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote in a 2000 case before the Supreme Court .
( Page 828 of Thomas ’ opinion . )
Espinoza and the other plaintiff in the case now before the high court wanted to apply their scholarship toward tuition at the Stillwater Christian School , a nondenominational school in Kalispell , Montana .
They won at the trial level .
The Department of Revenue appealed the case to the Montana Supreme Court , which overturned the trial court in December 2018 , finding the scholarship program does violate the state ’ s Blaine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with two daughters , appealed her case to the U.S. Supreme Court , which is expected to issue a ruling by June .
If she prevails , the result would be that “ when a state seeks to establish a generally available scholarship benefit , that no state will be able to rely on one of their Blaine amendments to invalidate these programs ” for religious schools , Hodges said .
The Institute for Justice video about the case is below .
“ School choice is very important to me , ” Espinoza @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I feel it is my responsibility and my right to be able to choose where my children go to school , where they learn and how they are educated and the influences that they have.
” Former Rep. Trent Franks of Arizona is someone watching the case with great interest .
In the late 1990s , he authored legislation creating the Arizona Tuition Tax Credit program , while serving as a state representative .
The Grand Canyon State was the first to establish such a tuition assistance program and other states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the model , KJZZ reported .
Trents explained to The Western Journal the advantage of the tax credit program is that it does not direct money from the treasury to religious schools , and therefore , in Arizona , has not been interpreted to be a violation of the state ’ s Blaine Amendment .
The way it works is individuals can contribute up to $ 500 to School Tuitions Organizations , known as STOs , and then deduct that from their Arizona tax liability .
Franks argued the money in question never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deductions and credits , it is used to calculate the individual ’ s tax liability to the state .
He offered the example of tax deductions made to churches or other charitable organizations .
“ You made that donation before you ever filled out your tax return , ” Franks said .
“ Then you go and fill out your tax return two months later .
And you show that as a deduction , does the money that you gave to that church all of the sudden become public money ?
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ If it does , then every dollar in your pocket is public money , because there ’ s potentially some demand or some claim on it by the government at some tax level.
” Former Arizona state Sen. Steven Yarbrough currently is the director of the Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization , one of the oldest and largest in the state .
There are over 60 STOs in Arizona , religious and non-religious alike , Yarbrough said .
Since its inception in 1998 , ACSTO has awarded over $ 240 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 150 Christian schools throughout the Grand Canyon State , according to the organization ’ s website .
“ We believe that the evidence is clear that there are large numbers of students who are only able to afford a form of education that is preferred by their parents as a result of scholarship tax credits , ” Yarbrough told The Western Journal .
Liz Cuhna is one of the parents who would not be able to afford to send her children to a Christian school , but for the ACSTO scholarships .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schools in the Phoenix metro area .
Cuhna wasn ’ t happy with some of the things she ’ s seen regarding some of her older kids ’ experiences in public schools .
“ We are a faith-based family and I thought that was really important that they could mimic that in their education , ” she said .
“ You see kids from all economic backgrounds going to Valley Christian , ” she said .
The scholarship program , she said , “ is an equalizer.
” Susie Staub , whose daughters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the school ’ s principal who told her about ACSTO program after their family experienced a job loss and thought they would have to pull their kids from the school .
“ We ’ re so grateful that we had that opportunity to choose the school that our children will go to , so that it would match up with our values , ” she said .
“ We just realy believe in our family that having school choice is so important , and it ’ s really a choice that a parent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program allows that choice to happen for a lot of families in Arizona.
” Sara Cornell , whose young son wasn ’ t being challenged enough in public school , told The Western Journal , “ There is no way we could afford private education without tax credits.
” Chelsea Oglebay and her sister both received ACSTO scholarships throughout their school years at Pusch Ridge Christian Academy in Tucson .
In an interview with The Western Journal , she recounted how her mother almost made a full-time job out of lining up donors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children ’ s entire tuition was covered .
Donors can earmark their contributions to certain individuals or schools , which the ACSTO scholarship awards committee takes into account .
“ Because of the tax credit program , we were able to be at a Christian school , ” Oglebay said .
“ That is what was best for us , and it ’ s shaped us into who we are now and where we ’ re at now , and I think our stories would be very different if we didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believes so much in the mission of ACSTO that she recently took at job with the organization as creative manager .
“ I ’ m just thrilled to be able to make that full circle , ” she explained .
ACSTO “ obviously provided so much for me growing up and now it ’ s so neat to be able to help them and to help other families who have had similar experiences as I have , or to ensure that they have similar experiences that I had.
” Franks hopes the Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favor , saying it will allow many more to have school choices available to them .
“ When this concept first occurred to me now 35 years ago , I prayed it could chart a new course in America to empower parents in their children ’ s education academically , philosophically , and spiritually , ” he wrote in an email to The Western Journal .
“ If the Supreme Court decides for the plaintiff in Espinoza , as I believe they will , it will open the path for millions of children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their parents rather than in the politically correct corridors of bureaucrats , ” he added .
“ This victory will have a huge impact on school choice nationwide , ” she said in the institute ’ s video .
“ It will wipe away the laws in states that still discriminate against religious options in school choice programs , and it will also enable legislators in many states to pass new programs.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The Supreme Court is poised to hand down a ruling regarding state K-12 tuition assistance programs that could have major implications, particularly for lower-income Americans who want their children to attend religious or other non-public schools.
Fox News reported that justices appeared “closely split” during oral arguments for Espinoza v. Montana Dept. of Revenue in January.
The case centers on a law passed in 2015 that allows Montanans to receive a $150 tax credit for donations made to private scholarship organizations.
The organizations then turn around and award scholarships to those who apply, who often are from lower-income families.
The amounts vary, but can equal part or all the cost of a full year of tuition at the private school of the recipient’s choice.
Eighteen states have various forms of tax-credit scholarship programs, according to EdChoice.
The Montana law allowed parents to choose any private school to apply the scholarship toward, including religious schools.
Shortly after the legislation was enacted the Montana Department of Revenue put in place an administrative rule that precluded scholarship recipients from using “their scholarships at religious schools,” according to the Supreme Court petition. (Page 6.)
The department relied on the Montana constitution’s so-called “Blaine amendment,” which prohibits, “direct or indirect appropriation or payment from any public fund or monies . . . for any sectarian purpose or to aid any church, school, academy, seminary, college, university, or other literary or scientific institution, controlled in whole or in part by any church, sect, or denomination.”
Do you support tuition tax credit programs? Yes No
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The Arlington, Virginia-based libertarian group Institute for Justice is representing school choice activist Kendra Espinoza and the other plaintiffs in the case. In a YouTube video produced by the institute, counsel Erica Smith explained that 37 states have Blaine amendments.
However, of those about 14 have ones “that are actively standing in the way of school choice,” because of how they have been interpreted by courts in those states, she said at about the 10-minute mark of the video.
In an interview with The Western Journal, David Hodges, a co-counsel on the Espinoza case, said the issue is parental choice.
“This case is about whether the religion clauses [like those found in Blaine amendments]…can invalidate generally available and religiously neutral student aid programs, just because the program gave the choice of attending a religious school,” David Hodges, a co-counsel in the Espinoza case with the Institute for Justice, told The Western Journal.
Blaine amendments were put in place in states starting in the late 1800s, after a drive led by then-Rep. James Blaine of Maine to amend the Constitution at the national level fell short.
The amendments were understood as a way to block tax dollars from going toward Catholic schools.
“Consideration of the amendment arose at a time of pervasive hostility to the Catholic Church and to Catholics in general, and it was an open secret that ‘sectarian’ was code for ‘Catholic,’” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in a 2000 case before the Supreme Court. (Page 828 of Thomas’ opinion.)
Espinoza and the other plaintiffs in the case now before the high court wanted to apply their scholarship toward tuition at the Stillwater Christian School, a nondenominational school in Kalispell, Montana.
They won at the trial level.
The Department of Revenue appealed the case to the Montana Supreme Court, which overturned the trial court in December 2018, finding the scholarship program does violate the state’s Blaine amendment.
Espinoza, a single mother with two daughters, appealed her case to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is expected to issue a ruling by June.
If she prevails, the result would be that “when a state seeks to establish a generally available scholarship benefit, that no state will be able to rely on one of their Blaine amendments to invalidate these programs” for religious schools, Hodges said.
The Institute for Justice video about the case is below.
“School choice is very important to me,” Espinoza said at the video’s opening. “I feel it is my responsibility and my right to be able to choose where my children go to school, where they learn and how they are educated and the influences that they have.”
Former Rep. Trent Franks of Arizona is someone watching the case with great interest.
Franks, a former member of the Arizona House of Representatives and the United States Congress, was the original author and leading proponent of the successful passage of the Tuition Tax Credit Bill in Arizona in the 1990s.
The Grand Canyon State was the first to establish such a tuition assistance program and other states, like Montana, have since followed the model, KJZZ reported.
Franks explained to The Western Journal the advantage of the tax credit program is that it does not direct money from the treasury to religious schools, and therefore, in Arizona, has not been interpreted to be a violation of the state’s Blaine Amendment.
The way it works is individuals can contribute up to $500 to School Tuitions Organizations, known as STOs, and then deduct that from their Arizona tax liability.
Franks argued the money in question never became public money, because like other deductions and credits, it is used to calculate the individual’s tax liability to the state.
He offered the example of tax deductions made to churches or other charitable organizations.
“You made that donation before you ever filled out your tax return,” Franks said. “Then you go and fill out your tax return two months later. And you show that as a deduction, does the money that you gave to that church all of the sudden become public money?”
The answer is no, according to Franks.
“If it does, then every dollar in your pocket is public money, because there’s potentially some demand or some claim on it by the government at some tax level.”
Former Arizona state Sen. Steven Yarbrough currently is the director of the Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization, one of the oldest and largest in the state. There are over 60 STOs in Arizona, religious and non-religious alike, Yarbrough said.
Since its inception in 1998, ACSTO has awarded over $240 million in scholarships to 38,000 students, attending 150 Christian schools throughout the Grand Canyon State, according to the organization’s website.
“We believe that the evidence is clear that there are large numbers of students who are only able to afford a form of education that is preferred by their parents as a result of scholarship tax credits,” Yarbrough told The Western Journal.
Liz Cuhna is one of the parents who would not be able to afford to send her children to a Christian school, but for the ACSTO scholarships.
She currently has three children attending Valley Christian Schools in the Phoenix metro area.
Cuhna wasn’t happy with some of the things she’s seen regarding some of her older kids’ experiences in public schools.
“We are a faith-based family and I thought that was really important that they could mimic that in their education,” she said.
“You see kids from all economic backgrounds going to Valley Christian,” she said. The scholarship program, she said, “is an equalizer.”
TrackTown, AZ Valley Christian Track & Field has combined to win 31 state championships since 1985 – the most of any Arizona high school. pic.twitter.com/MJx4ULAzG2 — Valley Christian Athletics (@vctrojans) April 20, 2020
Susie Staub, whose daughters attended Valley Christian, recalled it was the school’s principal who told her about ACSTO program after their family experienced a job loss and thought they would have to pull their kids from the school.
“We’re so grateful that we had that opportunity to choose the school that our children will go to, so that it would match up with our values,” she said. “We just really believe in our family that having school choice is so important, and it’s really a choice that a parent should make. That tax credit scholarship program allows that choice to happen for a lot of families in Arizona.”
Sara Cornell, whose young son wasn’t being challenged enough in public school, told The Western Journal, “There is no way we could afford private education without tax credits.”
Chelsea Oglebay and her sister both received ACSTO scholarships throughout their school years at Pusch Ridge Christian Academy in Tucson.
In an interview with The Western Journal, she recounted how her mother almost made a full-time job out of lining up donors to give to ACSTO, so her children’s entire tuition was covered.
Donors can earmark their contributions to certain individuals or schools, which the ACSTO scholarship awards committee takes into account.
“Because of the tax credit program, we were able to be at a Christian school,” Oglebay said. “That is what was best for us, and it’s shaped us into who we are now and where we’re at now, and I think our stories would be very different if we didn’t go to a Christian school.”
She believes so much in the mission of ACSTO that she recently took at job with the organization as creative manager.
“I’m just thrilled to be able to make that full circle,” she explained.
ACSTO “obviously provided so much for me growing up and now it’s so neat to be able to help them and to help other families who have had similar experiences as I have, or to ensure that they have similar experiences that I had.”
Franks hopes the Supreme Court will rule in Espinoza’s favor, saying it will allow many more to have school choices available to them.
“When this concept first occurred to me now 25 years ago, I prayed it could chart a new course in America to empower parents in their children’s education academically, philosophically, and spiritually,” he wrote in an email to The Western Journal.
“If the Supreme Court decides for the plaintiff in Espinoza, as I believe they will, it will open the path for millions of children to walk in the hopes and dreams of their parents rather than in the politically correct corridors of bureaucrats,” he added.
Smith, the Institute for Justice counsel, agreed.
“This victory will have a huge impact on school choice nationwide,” she said in the institute’s video.
“It will wipe away the laws in states that still discriminate against religious options in school choice programs, and it will also enable legislators in many states to pass new programs.”
CORRECTION, May 11, 2020: The original version of this article incorrectly identified the 19th-century congressman for whom the so-called “Blaine amendments” are named. He was Rep. James Blaine of Maine. We apologize to our readers for the error, and for any confusion we may have caused.
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westernjournal--2020-05-12--Amy Klobuchar Issues Threat Against Republicans if Vote-by-Mail Is Not Funded

Sen. Amy Klobuchar vowed on Sunday that Republicans would face “ wrath ” from Democrats if they don ’ t get on board with the party ’ s push for vote-by-mail in the next round of coronavirus relief spending .
Appearing on Al Sharpton ’ s MSNBC program Sunday , the Minnesota Democrat stressed the need for mail-in voting nationwide , citing dangers posed by the coronavirus .
Asked by Sharpton about what she hopes will be accomplished in the next round of spending on the issue of altering the country ’ s voting process , Klobuchar expressed urgency in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We ’ ve got to get this done in this next package to get funding to the states so that you don ’ t have that situation where people in garbage bags and homemade masks are standing in line in the rain like we saw in Wisconsin while the president of the United States could simply request a mail-in ballot from Palm Beach , Florida , and vote in the luxury of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue , ” she told Sharpton on his show “ PoliticsNation with Al Sharpton.
” “ Everyone should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also use this funding to make sure polls are open 20 days in advance and that we train a new generation of poll workers .
We must make this election safe for Americans .
And the president can say what he wants , ” she added .
The former presidential candidate also warned of consequences if the Democratic wishlist item is not funded .
“ The people are with us , Al , ” she told Sharpton .
“ They ’ re with us in swing states in North Carolina and in Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states that understand that with Republican governors , as well , everyone — no matter what your political persuasion — you should be able to vote safely , ” she said .
“ And so , it ’ s going to be wrath on my Republican colleagues if they do not allow for some funding to make sure that Americans can vote safely “ Our state and local governments don ’ t have the money right now around the country , and that ’ s what ’ s going to be this big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ package .
We have to protect our very democracy , ” Klobuchar concluded .
The senator did not elaborate on what that “ wrath ” might entail .
Democrats first attempted to attach a provision to force states to enact mail-in voting in March as part of a list of demands they wanted to be included in what became to $ 2 trillion CARES Act , which was intended to offer immediate relief to Americans and businesses struggling from shutdowns .
Other items included in the list of Democratic demands included a bailout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , required same-day voter registration , retirement plans for community newspaper employees and the implementation of a federal $ 15-an-hour minimum wage .
The Democrats ’ version of the bill also made reference to the word “ diversity ” more than five dozen times .
RELATED : Trump , GOP Accuse Dems of Trying To Steal California Special Congressional Election There are concerns that widespread mail-in voting is vulnerable to dishonesty .
President Donald Trump has been vocal in his opposition to the vote-by-mail push from Democrats .
During his April 3 coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the need for large scale mail-in voting by ABC News correspondent Jonathan Karl .
Trump expressed concerns that expanding mail-in ballots would increase the likelihood of voter fraud .
“ No , because I think a lot of people cheat with mail-in voting , ” Trump said .
Trump , who is in favor of voter I.D .
laws , has been highly critical of Democrats for attempting to expand the use of mail-in ballots .
California Gov .
Gavin Newsom signed an executive order last week requiring every registered California voter to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November presidential election .
Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh described Newsom ’ s order as “ a thinly-veiled political tactic ” meant to “ undermine election security ” on Twitter .
“ There ’ s a vast difference between people voting absentee by mail because they can ’ t be at the polls on Election Day versus mailing everyone a ballot , ” Murtaugh added .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Sen. Amy Klobuchar vowed on Sunday that Republicans would face “wrath” from Democrats if they don’t get on board with the party’s push for vote-by-mail in the next round of coronavirus relief spending.
Appearing on Al Sharpton’s MSNBC program Sunday, the Minnesota Democrat stressed the need for mail-in voting nationwide, citing dangers posed by the coronavirus.
Asked by Sharpton about what she hopes will be accomplished in the next round of spending on the issue of altering the country’s voting process, Klobuchar expressed urgency in pushing legislation through, Breitbart reported.
“We’ve got to get this done in this next package to get funding to the states so that you don’t have that situation where people in garbage bags and homemade masks are standing in line in the rain like we saw in Wisconsin while the president of the United States could simply request a mail-in ballot from Palm Beach, Florida, and vote in the luxury of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue,” she told Sharpton on his show “PoliticsNation with Al Sharpton.”
“Everyone should have that right, and we should also use this funding to make sure polls are open 20 days in advance and that we train a new generation of poll workers. We must make this election safe for Americans. And the president can say what he wants,” she added.
The former presidential candidate also warned of consequences if the Democratic wishlist item is not funded.
“The people are with us, Al,” she told Sharpton.
“They’re with us in swing states in North Carolina and in Iowa. They’re with us in states that understand that with Republican governors, as well, everyone — no matter what your political persuasion — you should be able to vote safely,” she said.
“And so, it’s going to be wrath on my Republican colleagues if they do not allow for some funding to make sure that Americans can vote safely
Do you think Democrats intend to use vote-by-mail to undermine the election? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 99% (7352 Votes) No: 1% (83 Votes)
“Our state and local governments don’t have the money right now around the country, and that’s what’s going to be this big fight coming up in this next legislative package. We have to protect our very democracy,” Klobuchar concluded.
The senator did not elaborate on what that “wrath” might entail.
Democrats first attempted to attach a provision to force states to enact mail-in voting in March as part of a list of demands they wanted to be included in what became to $2 trillion CARES Act, which was intended to offer immediate relief to Americans and businesses struggling from shutdowns.
Other items included in the list of Democratic demands included a bailout of the USPS, required early voting, required same-day voter registration, retirement plans for community newspaper employees and the implementation of a federal $15-an-hour minimum wage.
The Democrats’ version of the bill also made reference to the word “diversity” more than five dozen times.
There are concerns that widespread mail-in voting is vulnerable to dishonesty.
President Donald Trump has been vocal in his opposition to the vote-by-mail push from Democrats.
During his April 3 coronavirus media briefing, Trump was asked about the need for large scale mail-in voting by ABC News correspondent Jonathan Karl.
Trump expressed concerns that expanding mail-in ballots would increase the likelihood of voter fraud.
“No, because I think a lot of people cheat with mail-in voting,” Trump said.
President Trump: “The reason they don’t want voter ID is because they intend to cheat.” pic.twitter.com/BOUxuWgMQh — The Hill (@thehill) April 4, 2020
Trump, who is in favor of voter I.D. laws, has been highly critical of Democrats for attempting to expand the use of mail-in ballots.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order last week requiring every registered California voter to automatically receive a mail-in ballot for the November presidential election.
Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh described Newsom’s order as “a thinly-veiled political tactic” meant to “undermine election security” on Twitter.
This is a thinly-veiled political tactic by Gov. Newsom to undermine election security. There’s a vast difference between people voting absentee by mail because they can’t be at the polls on Election Day versus mailing everyone a ballot. westernjournal.com/new-trump-ad-exposes-joe-bidens-pro-china-anti-trump-campaign-strategy(1/3) https://t.co/wNnRDr4JHc — Tim Murtaugh – Download the Trump 2020 app today! (@TimMurtaugh) May 8, 2020
“There’s a vast difference between people voting absentee by mail because they can’t be at the polls on Election Day versus mailing everyone a ballot,” Murtaugh added.
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