freebeacon--2020-04-20--AOC Deletes Tweet Cheering Collapse of Domestic Oil Production

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) deleted a tweet Monday celebrating a collapse in short-term crude oil prices as an opportunity to push for the Green New Deal .
`` You absolutely love to see it .
This along with record low interest rates means it 's the right time for a worker-led , mass investment in green infrastructure to save our planet .
*cough* , '' Ocasio-Cortez wrote in a tweet recorded by political commentator Stephen L. Miller .
She linked to a tweet reporting on the price of American crude , which plummeted as the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tweet shortly after sending it Monday afternoon , but she tweeted again to say the state of the energy market `` is being acknowledged as a turning point in the climate movement . ''
`` Fossil fuels are in long-term structural decline , '' she wrote .
`` This along w/ low interest rates means it 's the right time to create millions of jobs transitioning to renewable and clean energy .
A key opportunity . ''
The price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate , a U.S. oil benchmark , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zero on Monday in an unprecedented collapse brought on in part by concerns over the United States ' storage capability .
Ocasio-Cortez also said she would oppose a new round of congressional coronavirus stimulus , saying her constituents were upset with the initial round of stimulus .
`` As the person who 's representing the most impacted district in the country , my constituents are upset .
My constituents were upset about the first package , '' she said .
`` In my district and in New York City and in our community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9/11 .
Multiple times of 9/11 have happened in the time since Congress has recessed .
So I 'm not here with the luxury of time . ''
Reps. Rashida Tlaib ( D. , Mich. ) and Pramila Jayapal ( D. , Wash. ) joined Ocasio-Cortez in criticizing the latest proposed stimulus due to a lack of transparency around the negotiations and insufficient funding for state and individual assistance .
Ocasio-Cortez is also not the only congressional Democrat who has described the coronavirus crisis as an opportunity for Democratic legislative priorities .
House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ S.C. ) last month described the crisis as a `` tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision , '' and he was subsequently tapped by Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) to lead the new coronavirus oversight committee .
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden has made concessions to politicians further to the left , such as Ocasio-Cortez , in an effort to win support from more extreme corners of the Democratic Party .
Ocasio-Cortez , however , said Biden 's outreach , including an offer to lower the age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for All , was `` almost insulting . ''

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) deleted a tweet Monday celebrating a collapse in short-term crude oil prices as an opportunity to push for the Green New Deal.
"You absolutely love to see it. This along with record low interest rates means it's the right time for a worker-led, mass investment in green infrastructure to save our planet. *cough*," Ocasio-Cortez wrote in a tweet recorded by political commentator Stephen L. Miller. She linked to a tweet reporting on the price of American crude, which plummeted as the coronavirus pandemic has obliterated demand.
nO oNe Is ChEeRiNg ThIs PaNdEmIc pic.twitter.com/JXdx4E9zq2 — Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) April 20, 2020
Ocasio-Cortez deleted the tweet shortly after sending it Monday afternoon, but she tweeted again to say the state of the energy market "is being acknowledged as a turning point in the climate movement."
"Fossil fuels are in long-term structural decline," she wrote. "This along w/ low interest rates means it's the right time to create millions of jobs transitioning to renewable and clean energy. A key opportunity."
This snapshot is being acknowledged as a turning point in the climate movement. Fossil fuels are in long-term structural decline. This along w/ low interest rates means it‘s the right time to create millions of jobs transitioning to renewable and clean energy. A key opportunity. https://t.co/UqT8DI5u2I — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) April 20, 2020
The price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate, a U.S. oil benchmark, slated for delivery in May fell below zero on Monday in an unprecedented collapse brought on in part by concerns over the United States' storage capability.
Ocasio-Cortez also said she would oppose a new round of congressional coronavirus stimulus, saying her constituents were upset with the initial round of stimulus.
"As the person who's representing the most impacted district in the country, my constituents are upset. My constituents were upset about the first package," she said. "In my district and in New York City and in our community, we've had more deaths than 9/11. Multiple times of 9/11 have happened in the time since Congress has recessed. So I'm not here with the luxury of time."
Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.) and Pramila Jayapal (D., Wash.) joined Ocasio-Cortez in criticizing the latest proposed stimulus due to a lack of transparency around the negotiations and insufficient funding for state and individual assistance.
Ocasio-Cortez is also not the only congressional Democrat who has described the coronavirus crisis as an opportunity for Democratic legislative priorities.
House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D., S.C.) last month described the crisis as a "tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision," and he was subsequently tapped by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) to lead the new coronavirus oversight committee.
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden has made concessions to politicians further to the left, such as Ocasio-Cortez, in an effort to win support from more extreme corners of the Democratic Party. Ocasio-Cortez, however, said Biden's outreach, including an offer to lower the age for Medicare eligibility but not pass Medicare for All, was "almost insulting."


freebeacon--2020-04-20--‘I’m Not Thinking About Politics,’ Gov. Whitmer Tells New York Times Political Reporters

Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ( D. , Mich. ) does n't want people to know how desperate she is to be chosen as former vice president Joe Biden 's running mate .
`` I 'm not thinking about politics .
I 'm not , '' Whitmer told a couple of New York Times political reporters writing a source-greasing profile on how the Michigan governor `` is n't backing down '' in the face of conservative protests in her state .
Whitmer insisted in the interview that `` every ounce of energy I have is being put into protecting people and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she is n't appearing on the Daily Show or speaking to the New York Times , Whitmer has found time to establish crucial initiatives , such as the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities , which she created on Monday via executive order .
Though national papers like the Times have been enamored of Whitmer 's numerous television appearances and willingness to engage in verbal combat with President Donald Trump , local outlets such as the Detroit News have expressed concern that the governor is prioritizing her political career over the well-being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published earlier this month , News editors chastised Whitmer for `` sending conflicting signals about her priorities and motivations , '' while noting that her `` running feud with President Donald Trump calls into question whether she 's acting in the best interests of this state , or on behalf of the Democratic Party . ''
Whitmer 's insatiable appetite for media exposure , the editors argued , suggested a strong interest in `` serving her own ambition to be vice president . ''
Biden 's choice of a running mate this cycle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former VP 's advanced age and cognitive decline , his running mate could very well be the one sworn in as president in 2021 .
And while Whitmer has routinely deflected questions about the VP nomination , other potential candidates have been more explicit about their desire to be chosen .
Stacey Abrams , for example , told Elle magazine , `` I would be an excellent running mate , '' while citing her `` strong history of executive and management experience , '' as well as the 25 years she allegedly spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Abrams served in the Georgia General Assembly before running an unsuccessful campaign for governor in 2018 , though she has repeatedly refused to concede defeat .
Whitmer and Abrams are among the 10 candidates—all female—who Biden is reportedly considering .

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D., Mich.) doesn't want people to know how desperate she is to be chosen as former vice president Joe Biden's running mate.
"I'm not thinking about politics. I'm not," Whitmer told a couple of New York Times political reporters writing a source-greasing profile on how the Michigan governor "isn't backing down" in the face of conservative protests in her state. Whitmer insisted in the interview that "every ounce of energy I have is being put into protecting people and saving lives in Michigan."
When she isn't appearing on the Daily Show or speaking to the New York Times, Whitmer has found time to establish crucial initiatives, such as the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities, which she created on Monday via executive order.
Though national papers like the Times have been enamored of Whitmer's numerous television appearances and willingness to engage in verbal combat with President Donald Trump, local outlets such as the Detroit News have expressed concern that the governor is prioritizing her political career over the well-being of the state.
In an editorial published earlier this month, News editors chastised Whitmer for "sending conflicting signals about her priorities and motivations," while noting that her "running feud with President Donald Trump calls into question whether she's acting in the best interests of this state, or on behalf of the Democratic Party." Whitmer's insatiable appetite for media exposure, the editors argued, suggested a strong interest in "serving her own ambition to be vice president."
Biden's choice of a running mate this cycle will be especially consequential. Given the former VP's advanced age and cognitive decline, his running mate could very well be the one sworn in as president in 2021. And while Whitmer has routinely deflected questions about the VP nomination, other potential candidates have been more explicit about their desire to be chosen.
Stacey Abrams, for example, told Elle magazine, "I would be an excellent running mate," while citing her "strong history of executive and management experience," as well as the 25 years she allegedly spent "in independent study of foreign policy." Abrams served in the Georgia General Assembly before running an unsuccessful campaign for governor in 2018, though she has repeatedly refused to concede defeat.
Whitmer and Abrams are among the 10 candidates—all female—who Biden is reportedly considering.


freebeacon--2020-04-20--California Law Limiting Independent Contractors is Hindering Coronavirus Response, Experts Say

Democratic California governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday rebuffed calls to suspend a controversial labor law that experts say hinders the state 's pandemic response and hurts vulnerable workers .
State and federal legislators , small business owners , and more than 150 economists and political scientists have urged Newsom to suspend California Assembly Bill 5 ( AB5 ) , the controversial 2019 bill that limited companies ' ability to classify workers as independent contractors .
They argue that the law has impeded the state economy and burdened health care systems already strained by coronavirus .
Many hospitals , particularly in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide health services , as they lack the resources to support full-time employees .
And as thousands of Californians face unemployment due to the pandemic , AB5 makes it nearly impossible for workers to take on temporary jobs from home .
Despite these concerns , Newsom , who did not respond to a request for comment , praised AB5 during a Wednesday press conference .
He touted the law as an example of the state 's national leadership .
`` The state of California prides itself on being a national leader as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misclassification , '' Newsom said .
He added that the state is `` advancing the cause in righting those wrongs and continuing to transition in the implementation of AB5 , '' indicating that the law will remain in effect for the foreseeable future .
Though AB5 is unique to California , backlash over its enforcement could have national implications .
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden endorsed the law in March , calling it `` ground-breaking . ''
Biden 's support for the law—which was written by the AFL-CIO—could place the presumptive Democratic nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woos the country 's largest labor union .
AB5 mandates stringent requirements employers must meet in order to classify workers as independent contractors , who do not receive benefits like unemployment and health insurance .
The law caused many who had made a living as contractors to be reclassified as direct employees .
Widespread layoffs followed , as companies struggled to meet the increase in legally imposed labor costs—putting thousands of freelancers out of work .
Now , as coronavirus increases the demand for flexible employment for food delivery drivers , online tutors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say AB5 is exacerbating the pandemic 's strain on California 's economy and health care system .
`` If you want to minimize economic damage , AB5 makes no sense , '' Pacific Research Institute senior fellow Wayne Winegarden told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` Whether it 's health care or the broader economy , AB5 is hurting our response to this virus , '' he said .
AB5 is typically associated with `` gig economy '' jobs , including food delivery apps that connect consumers to independent service providers working on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are especially vital during the coronavirus crisis—they help at-risk populations stay at home , limiting the virus 's spread—independent contractors are also common in professions key to California 's health care system .
Winegarden said that because California has large non-English-speaking populations , many residents rely on translators to communicate with their health providers .
Before the Newsom administration implemented AB5 , medical interpreters typically worked as independent contractors , and many were able to perform their jobs from home .
`` Anything we can do to help people not just earn income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at-risk populations , that 's important , and AB5 is restricting that , '' Winegarden said .
`` I would never have thought of how important translators are to addressing the virus , how important food delivery people are to addressing the virus .
The fact that AB5 interferes with that , in ways that are n't particularly obvious , is a very important cost . ''
Lawmakers at both the state and federal level have called on Newsom to suspend AB5 until at least the end of the pandemic .
Republican state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspend the law in February .
The spread of the coronavirus and resulting lockdown have added a sense of urgency to the repeal effort .
Kiley said AB5 has left jobless Californians unable to gain the flexible employment they need to survive financially amid the state 's stay-at-home order .
`` It speaks to an absolute ignorance of expert opinion and defiance of common sense and human decency , '' Kiley told the Free Beacon .
`` We have people in their homes right now , at a time when 2.6 million unemployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the skills and desire to work , yet applications to work remotely for different companies specifically say that if you work in California , you 're not eligible .
We need all the economic opportunities we can get right now . ''
Opposition to the law is not limited to Republican lawmakers and local think tanks .
More than 150 Ph.D. economists and political scientists , including Nobel laureate Vernon Smith , sent Newsom a letter calling on the governor to suspend AB5 .
The group of experts wrote that the law is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harm to the very people who now have the fewest resources and the worst alternatives available to them . ''
`` You have people telling me they lost half their business because of AB5 , and now they lost the other half because of the virus , '' Kiley said .
`` When it comes to economic policy , Newsom continues to outsource to the state 's most powerful special interest groups . ''
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy ( R. , Calif. ) echoed calls to suspend AB5 after urging Newsom and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` With California 's shelter in place order in effect for nearly a month , it 's clearer than ever that the state 's AB5 policy continues to hurt gig-economy workers , '' McCarthy told the Free Beacon .
`` Though I am encouraged to see that Governor Newsom has begun to implement the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program created under the CARES Act , gig economy workers deserve to maintain their livelihoods throughout the duration of this pandemic and afterwards . ''

Democratic California governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday rebuffed calls to suspend a controversial labor law that experts say hinders the state's pandemic response and hurts vulnerable workers.
State and federal legislators, small business owners, and more than 150 economists and political scientists have urged Newsom to suspend California Assembly Bill 5 (AB5), the controversial 2019 bill that limited companies' ability to classify workers as independent contractors. They argue that the law has impeded the state economy and burdened health care systems already strained by coronavirus. Many hospitals, particularly in rural communities, rely on independent contractors to provide health services, as they lack the resources to support full-time employees. And as thousands of Californians face unemployment due to the pandemic, AB5 makes it nearly impossible for workers to take on temporary jobs from home.
Despite these concerns, Newsom, who did not respond to a request for comment, praised AB5 during a Wednesday press conference. He touted the law as an example of the state's national leadership.
"The state of California prides itself on being a national leader as it relates to protecting our workers from misclassification," Newsom said. He added that the state is "advancing the cause in righting those wrongs and continuing to transition in the implementation of AB5," indicating that the law will remain in effect for the foreseeable future.
Though AB5 is unique to California, backlash over its enforcement could have national implications. Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden endorsed the law in March, calling it "ground-breaking." Biden's support for the law—which was written by the AFL-CIO—could place the presumptive Democratic nominee at odds with disgruntled Californians as he woos the country's largest labor union.
AB5 mandates stringent requirements employers must meet in order to classify workers as independent contractors, who do not receive benefits like unemployment and health insurance. The law caused many who had made a living as contractors to be reclassified as direct employees. Widespread layoffs followed, as companies struggled to meet the increase in legally imposed labor costs—putting thousands of freelancers out of work.
Now, as coronavirus increases the demand for flexible employment for food delivery drivers, online tutors, and even medical professionals, experts say AB5 is exacerbating the pandemic's strain on California's economy and health care system.
"If you want to minimize economic damage, AB5 makes no sense," Pacific Research Institute senior fellow Wayne Winegarden told the Washington Free Beacon. "Whether it's health care or the broader economy, AB5 is hurting our response to this virus," he said.
AB5 is typically associated with "gig economy" jobs, including food delivery apps that connect consumers to independent service providers working on their own schedule. While these services are especially vital during the coronavirus crisis—they help at-risk populations stay at home, limiting the virus's spread—independent contractors are also common in professions key to California's health care system. Winegarden said that because California has large non-English-speaking populations, many residents rely on translators to communicate with their health providers. Before the Newsom administration implemented AB5, medical interpreters typically worked as independent contractors, and many were able to perform their jobs from home.
"Anything we can do to help people not just earn income for themselves, but provide services for at-risk populations, that's important, and AB5 is restricting that," Winegarden said. "I would never have thought of how important translators are to addressing the virus, how important food delivery people are to addressing the virus. The fact that AB5 interferes with that, in ways that aren't particularly obvious, is a very important cost."
Lawmakers at both the state and federal level have called on Newsom to suspend AB5 until at least the end of the pandemic. Republican state assemblyman Kevin Kiley introduced a bill to suspend the law in February. The spread of the coronavirus and resulting lockdown have added a sense of urgency to the repeal effort. Kiley said AB5 has left jobless Californians unable to gain the flexible employment they need to survive financially amid the state's stay-at-home order.
"It speaks to an absolute ignorance of expert opinion and defiance of common sense and human decency," Kiley told the Free Beacon. "We have people in their homes right now, at a time when 2.6 million unemployment claims have been filed, who have the skills and desire to work, yet applications to work remotely for different companies specifically say that if you work in California, you're not eligible. We need all the economic opportunities we can get right now."
Opposition to the law is not limited to Republican lawmakers and local think tanks. More than 150 Ph.D. economists and political scientists, including Nobel laureate Vernon Smith, sent Newsom a letter calling on the governor to suspend AB5. The group of experts wrote that the law is causing "substantial, and avoidable, harm to the very people who now have the fewest resources and the worst alternatives available to them."
"You have people telling me they lost half their business because of AB5, and now they lost the other half because of the virus," Kiley said. "When it comes to economic policy, Newsom continues to outsource to the state's most powerful special interest groups."
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) echoed calls to suspend AB5 after urging Newsom and the state legislature to repeal the law.
"With California's shelter in place order in effect for nearly a month, it's clearer than ever that the state's AB5 policy continues to hurt gig-economy workers," McCarthy told the Free Beacon. "Though I am encouraged to see that Governor Newsom has begun to implement the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program created under the CARES Act, gig economy workers deserve to maintain their livelihoods throughout the duration of this pandemic and afterwards."


freebeacon--2020-04-20--COUNTERPOINT: There’s No Crying In Journalism

HUBEI PROVINCE ( 湖北省 ) , LESSER TAIWAN—I do n't always watch the news .
But when I do , I prefer the One America News Network .
It 's not a partisan thing .
There is value in hearing from all sides—even the Far Left , which is why I watch Hannity and tune in to White House press briefings .
I prefer OAN for one simple reason : As far as I can tell , their journos are significantly less likely than those at other networks to break down in tears under pressure .
I do n't watch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stelter works there .
He 's one of those `` media reporters '' who reports on the media .
He inhabits a world of gratuitous self-gratification that , due to the physical limits of the human body , normal folks will never reach .
His show , Reliable Sources , is where so-called `` firefighters '' come to get soaked by other `` firefighters . ''
It 's the journo equivalent of the shirtless calendar .
You probably wo n't be surprised to learn that Stelter had a public meltdown over the weekend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media newsletter he writes for members of the media .
Because of his feelings .
Because the China-caused pandemic has taken a toll on his eMoTiONs .
`` I crawled in bed and cried for our pre-pandemic lives , '' Stelter confessed on Twitter , the popular social networking website .
`` Tears that had been waiting a month to escape . ''
On Sunday 's episode of Reliable Sources , the lachrymose host elaborated in somber soliloquy .
He had `` tried to bottle it all up . ''
He was `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was `` so angry at the ignorance in Washington , '' where much of the political media is based .
`` That 's when the tears came . ''
I assume he removed his top hat and monocle before crawling under his weighted blanket and wailing like a child .
What , may I ask , has become of the American Man ?
By all accounts , this is the sort of Beta groveling to which He must succumb in order to get laid these days .
He spends hours stacking His bookshelves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He schleps reusable tote bags to the local art collective , bartering essential oils for Hentai renderings of the Last Supper .
He hoards sanitary napkins and partakes in `` empathetic man-stration . ''
He vlogs about spirit energy and believes , unironically , that journalists are human beings .
In other words , the American Man no longer exists .
It was the Baby Boomers who put Him down—that generation of draft dodgers who taught their sons not to care about things like winning or being good at sports or loving America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bastard .
Say what you will about Walter Cronkite—a devoted communist and shameless Việt Cộng sympathizer—at least he was n't a p*ssy .
Maybe it was the authoritative mustache and the full head of hair , but Americans believed they could trust him , even though they could n't .
Christopher Hitchens was a devoted communist whose idea of journalism ( getting waterboarded , not crying ) was slightly different from Stelter 's ( analyzing presidential hashtags with Dan Rather , sobbing himself to sleep ) .
Stelter is a product of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physical and moral ) frailty of his professional class , the depravity of his coddled generation .
A real firefighter , having never set foot in a Columbia Journalism School auditorium—save perhaps in response to a Green Room microwave emergency before a roundtable discussion with Brian Stelter—knows better than to fight a real fire with a limp hose .
Tears might make a fine lubricant in the deviant fantasies of Manhattan elites , but they 'll never retard the flames of reality .
Man up , America .
We survived the Jimmy Carter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese menace , too .
Dry eyes , full hearts , ca n't lose .

HUBEI PROVINCE (湖北省), LESSER TAIWAN—I don't always watch the news. But when I do, I prefer the One America News Network.
It's not a partisan thing. There is value in hearing from all sides—even the Far Left, which is why I watch Hannity and tune in to White House press briefings. I prefer OAN for one simple reason: As far as I can tell, their journos are significantly less likely than those at other networks to break down in tears under pressure.
I don't watch CNN, for example, because Brian Stelter works there. He's one of those "media reporters" who reports on the media. He inhabits a world of gratuitous self-gratification that, due to the physical limits of the human body, normal folks will never reach. His show, Reliable Sources, is where so-called "firefighters" come to get soaked by other "firefighters." It's the journo equivalent of the shirtless calendar.
You probably won't be surprised to learn that Stelter had a public meltdown over the weekend. He missed his deadline for the media newsletter he writes for members of the media. Because of his feelings. Because the China-caused pandemic has taken a toll on his eMoTiONs.
"I crawled in bed and cried for our pre-pandemic lives," Stelter confessed on Twitter, the popular social networking website. "Tears that had been waiting a month to escape."
On Sunday's episode of Reliable Sources, the lachrymose host elaborated in somber soliloquy. He had "tried to bottle it all up." He was "trying to be stoic." He was "so angry at the ignorance in Washington," where much of the political media is based. "That's when the tears came." I assume he removed his top hat and monocle before crawling under his weighted blanket and wailing like a child.
What, may I ask, has become of the American Man? By all accounts, this is the sort of Beta groveling to which He must succumb in order to get laid these days. He spends hours stacking His bookshelves with dog-eared copies of feminist memoirs. He schleps reusable tote bags to the local art collective, bartering essential oils for Hentai renderings of the Last Supper. He hoards sanitary napkins and partakes in "empathetic man-stration." He vlogs about spirit energy and believes, unironically, that journalists are human beings.
In other words, the American Man no longer exists. It was the Baby Boomers who put Him down—that generation of draft dodgers who taught their sons not to care about things like winning or being good at sports or loving America. Requiescat in pace, you noble bastard.
Say what you will about Walter Cronkite—a devoted communist and shameless Việt Cộng sympathizer—at least he wasn't a p*ssy. Maybe it was the authoritative mustache and the full head of hair, but Americans believed they could trust him, even though they couldn't. Christopher Hitchens was a devoted communist whose idea of journalism (getting waterboarded, not crying) was slightly different from Stelter's (analyzing presidential hashtags with Dan Rather, sobbing himself to sleep).
Stelter is a product of his time, a reflection of the (physical and moral) frailty of his professional class, the depravity of his coddled generation. A real firefighter, having never set foot in a Columbia Journalism School auditorium—save perhaps in response to a Green Room microwave emergency before a roundtable discussion with Brian Stelter—knows better than to fight a real fire with a limp hose. Tears might make a fine lubricant in the deviant fantasies of Manhattan elites, but they'll never retard the flames of reality.
Man up, America. We survived the Jimmy Carter administration, and we'll survive this Chinese menace, too. Dry eyes, full hearts, can't lose.


freebeacon--2020-04-20--One Minute of Joe Biden Staring at His Notes During Interviews

Joe Biden is in desperate need of a teleprompter for his Delaware coronavirus bunker .
In interview after interview , @ @ @ @ @ forced to check his notes as he searches for answers .
David Rutz is senior @ @ @ @ @ Beacon .
He was previously a sports reporter for two years in Atlanta and has @ @ @ @ @ the Washington Post .
He graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2010 and lives in Marietta @ @ @ @ @ is @ DavidRutz .
He can be reached at rutz @ freebeacon.com .

Joe Biden is in desperate need of a teleprompter for his Delaware coronavirus bunker. In interview after interview, the presumptive Democratic nominee is forced to check his notes as he searches for answers.


freebeacon--2020-04-20--Biden Adviser Blames Trump for Small Business Loans Drying Up

Joe Biden 's campaign adviser Symone Sanders on Monday blamed the Trump administration for the Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) running out of funds after Democrats blocked additional funding .
`` Let 's talk about how unacceptable it is that this administration has run out of money for small business loans , '' Sanders wrote on Twitter .
`` It is the president and his administration 's job to make sure all Americans are taken care of during this time .
Leadership starts at the TOP . ''
Congress , not the president , controls appropriations legislation .
Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , supported by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R. , Ky. ) , that would have allocated $ 250 billion more in PPP funding .
The Trump administration had requested the additional funds .
McConnell wrote that day on Twitter that the Democrats refused to support the bill , even though the funds were immediately needed to protect American jobs .
`` Senate Democrats just blocked urgent money for a popular , bipartisan job-saving program which they themselves literally coauthored with us two weeks ago , '' McConnell said .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dollar amount without changing anything else .
But they blocked it . ''
Up to half of small businesses could permanently close if the national shutdown lasts longer than four months .
PPP is intended to keep those businesses afloat by offering loans which are forgivable if used to keep paying employees .
The number of people filing for unemployment has reached unprecedented levels as a result of widespread shutdowns in response to the coronavirus pandemic .
Democrats and Republicans have both affirmed the need for more PPP money during the crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have yet to produce an agreement .
Democratic senators Kyrsten Sinema ( Ariz. ) and Tina Smith ( Minn. ) have called on Democrats to fund the program without delay .

Joe Biden's campaign adviser Symone Sanders on Monday blamed the Trump administration for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) running out of funds after Democrats blocked additional funding.
"Let's talk about how unacceptable it is that this administration has run out of money for small business loans," Sanders wrote on Twitter. "It is the president and his administration's job to make sure all Americans are taken care of during this time. Leadership starts at the TOP."
Let’s talk about how unacceptable it is that this administration has run out of money for small business loans. It is the president and his administration’s job to make sure all Americans are taken care of during this time. Leadership starts at the TOP. — Symone D. Sanders (@SymoneDSanders) April 19, 2020
Congress, not the president, controls appropriations legislation. Senate Democrats on April 9 blocked a bill, supported by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), that would have allocated $250 billion more in PPP funding. The Trump administration had requested the additional funds.
McConnell wrote that day on Twitter that the Democrats refused to support the bill, even though the funds were immediately needed to protect American jobs.
"Senate Democrats just blocked urgent money for a popular, bipartisan job-saving program which they themselves literally coauthored with us two weeks ago," McConnell said. "I complimented both sides and asked to increase the dollar amount without changing anything else. But they blocked it."
Up to half of small businesses could permanently close if the national shutdown lasts longer than four months. PPP is intended to keep those businesses afloat by offering loans which are forgivable if used to keep paying employees.
The number of people filing for unemployment has reached unprecedented levels as a result of widespread shutdowns in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Democrats and Republicans have both affirmed the need for more PPP money during the crisis, but negotiations for a bipartisan bill have yet to produce an agreement. Democratic senators Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) and Tina Smith (Minn.) have called on Democrats to fund the program without delay.


freebeacon--2020-04-20--Trump Withholding Over $350 Million From WHO, But Congress Still Key to Investigating International

Trump Withholding Over $350 Million From WHO, But Congress Still Key to Investigating International Coronavirus Response

The Trump administration has decided to withhold hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars from the World Health Organization over its complicity in helping China avoid responsibility for the coronavirus pandemic , but it will be up to Congress to ramp up pressure on the organization to enact reforms .
President Donald Trump promised to repurpose WHO funding to support other international causes after a review , but the hold only affects a portion of funding that has yet to be transferred to the international organization .
A senior White House official said America has already sent about $ 98 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just a fraction of the remaining $ 365 to $ 465 million that would have been available to the WHO in 2020 .
The money gives the United States some leverage , but a more permanent and all-encompassing change to America 's relationship with the WHO must come from Congress , pitting congressional Republicans against their Democratic counterparts as the former seek to condition future aid on the resignation of top WHO official Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus .
`` Congressional action is not necessary to implement the President 's policy during the 60- to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help immensely in convincing the WHO that U.S. concerns are not ephemeral , '' Brett Schaefer , a fellow at the Heritage Foundation , said .
`` WHO leadership may be hoping that Congress or a new administration could restore funding .
If the President wants to apply pressure on the WHO to reform , having Congress include reform demands in legislation would be very helpful . ''
The WHO has faced bipartisan criticism for its botched handling of the pandemic that has killed more than 30,000 Americans , as critics argue that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beijing .
For instance , the organization repeated regime claims that there are no documented cases of person-to-person transmission of the new coronavirus as late as mid-January , ignoring December reports from Taiwan about such cases .
The WHO continued to praise China 's coronavirus response for its `` transparency , '' despite mounting evidence that the Chinese government continues to censor and suppress information about the deadly disease .
U.S. donations to the WHO , which account for roughly 20 percent of the organization 's budget , are given through assessed contributions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ membership fees calculated based on a country 's wealth and population , while voluntary contributions are additional donations made on top of the assessed contributions .
A senior administration official told the Washington Free Beacon that the United States has already paid roughly $ 58 million but withholds $ 65 million in assessed contributions .
As for voluntary contributions , the official said roughly $ 40 million has already been transferred to the WHO , while $ 300 to $ 400 million is being reprogrammed to sponsor different organizations , totaling over $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House can divert money away from the WHO because the legislative language in the U.S. budget is broad enough that the allocated funds could be diverted to alternative institutions .
The administration official expressed concern that Congress might undermine the administration 's attempt to pressure international organizations to resist Chinese influence—if congressional leaders mandate increased funding specifically for the WHO , it would undermine the White House push for reforms .
`` Is Congress going to keep trying to appropriate WHO , U.N. money at much higher levels than the [ White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably yes , let 's be honest , '' the official said .
`` If you want us to spend this money , we are going to spend it with people on the ground who do this the right way , not the World Health Organization . ''
Despite the misgivings of the White House , Republicans in both houses have pushed forward a variety of measures to hold the WHO accountable beginning in March .
Republican congressman Guy Reschenthaler ( Pa. ) introduced sense-of-the-House legislation on April 7 demanding that the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WHO until Tedros resigns and an international commission is set up to investigate the organization 's conduct .
The nonbinding resolution left untouched the U.S. government 's assessed dues , which amount to roughly 25 percent of its total contribution .
`` Dr. Tedros truly mishandled this pandemic .
He was either , I 'd say , grossly negligent or worse , he worked hand-in-glove with the Chinese Communist Party to cover this up early on , '' Reschenthaler told the Free Beacon .
`` I felt that it was my duty to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Organization reforms itself , as long as Americans are paying money into it . ''
Democrats have so far refused to join Republicans in the effort .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) said on Wednesday that the White House 's funding hold was `` illegal '' and vowed to challenge it .
Reschenthaler has pushed for bipartisanship but Democrats have been unwilling to publicly sign on to his legislation .
`` Sadly , the Democrats are putting politics first and frankly apologizing for the CCP above what 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good for the United States , '' he said .
`` I think that if they did put the health of the world first … they would join my resolution and stop funding the World Health Organization . ''
Congressional Republicans appear intent on holding the WHO accountable with or without Democratic support .
Sen. Todd Young ( R. , Ind . )
has called on Tedros to appear before Congress , while several Republican senators have called for his resignation .
The House Oversight Committee has also demanded documents from the WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taiwan , and Rep. Jim Banks ( R. , Ind . )
has demanded that the WHO withdraw several `` highly misleading statements of support for the Chinese Government 's response to COVID-19 . ''
It remains unclear how cooperative the WHO will be with Republican oversight efforts since Congress lacks formal jurisdiction over international institutions .
The last time Congress conducted an all-encompassing investigation into an international organization—the 2004-2006 Senate probe into the U.N. 's corrupt Oil-for-Food program—U.N .
officials `` were n't very cooperative , '' according to Steven Groves , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probe .
He said that the Senate investigation was stonewalled by U.N. officials .
Many of the records included in the report were obtained from American officials .
`` I do n't think we ended up actually issuing a subpoena on them—they have immunity , '' Groves said about the U.N. officials .
`` The bottom line is that since international organizations are not under our jurisdiction and have immunity from compelled disclosure of anything … you ca n't force them . ''
Groves said that while congressional oversight over the WHO will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress might be able to convince the WHO to cooperate by leveraging its financial dependency on U.S. contributions .
`` [ Congress ] is in no position to compel the WHO to turn over anything , '' he said .
`` Now , the reality of the situation is that the U.S. is the largest funder of WHO .
So the WHO will feel some type of obligation to cooperate at some level or another . ''
The White House review of WHO activity is expected to be completed by July .

The Trump administration has decided to withhold hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars from the World Health Organization over its complicity in helping China avoid responsibility for the coronavirus pandemic, but it will be up to Congress to ramp up pressure on the organization to enact reforms.
President Donald Trump promised to repurpose WHO funding to support other international causes after a review, but the hold only affects a portion of funding that has yet to be transferred to the international organization. A senior White House official said America has already sent about $98 million to the organization, but that is just a fraction of the remaining $365 to $465 million that would have been available to the WHO in 2020. The money gives the United States some leverage, but a more permanent and all-encompassing change to America's relationship with the WHO must come from Congress, pitting congressional Republicans against their Democratic counterparts as the former seek to condition future aid on the resignation of top WHO official Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
"Congressional action is not necessary to implement the President's policy during the 60- to 90-day review period, but it would help immensely in convincing the WHO that U.S. concerns are not ephemeral," Brett Schaefer, a fellow at the Heritage Foundation, said. "WHO leadership may be hoping that Congress or a new administration could restore funding. If the President wants to apply pressure on the WHO to reform, having Congress include reform demands in legislation would be very helpful."
The WHO has faced bipartisan criticism for its botched handling of the pandemic that has killed more than 30,000 Americans, as critics argue that its leaders have been excessively deferential to Beijing. For instance, the organization repeated regime claims that there are no documented cases of person-to-person transmission of the new coronavirus as late as mid-January, ignoring December reports from Taiwan about such cases. The WHO continued to praise China's coronavirus response for its "transparency," despite mounting evidence that the Chinese government continues to censor and suppress information about the deadly disease.
U.S. donations to the WHO, which account for roughly 20 percent of the organization's budget, are given through assessed contributions and voluntary contributions. Assessed contributions are membership fees calculated based on a country's wealth and population, while voluntary contributions are additional donations made on top of the assessed contributions. A senior administration official told the Washington Free Beacon that the United States has already paid roughly $58 million but withholds $65 million in assessed contributions. As for voluntary contributions, the official said roughly $40 million has already been transferred to the WHO, while $300 to $400 million is being reprogrammed to sponsor different organizations, totaling over $350 million in withheld funds.
The White House can divert money away from the WHO because the legislative language in the U.S. budget is broad enough that the allocated funds could be diverted to alternative institutions. The administration official expressed concern that Congress might undermine the administration's attempt to pressure international organizations to resist Chinese influence—if congressional leaders mandate increased funding specifically for the WHO, it would undermine the White House push for reforms.
"Is Congress going to keep trying to appropriate WHO, U.N. money at much higher levels than the [White House] budget? The answer is probably yes, let's be honest," the official said. "If you want us to spend this money, we are going to spend it with people on the ground who do this the right way, not the World Health Organization."
Despite the misgivings of the White House, Republicans in both houses have pushed forward a variety of measures to hold the WHO accountable beginning in March. Republican congressman Guy Reschenthaler (Pa.) introduced sense-of-the-House legislation on April 7 demanding that the U.S. government makes no voluntary contributions to the WHO until Tedros resigns and an international commission is set up to investigate the organization's conduct. The nonbinding resolution left untouched the U.S. government's assessed dues, which amount to roughly 25 percent of its total contribution.
"Dr. Tedros truly mishandled this pandemic. He was either, I'd say, grossly negligent or worse, he worked hand-in-glove with the Chinese Communist Party to cover this up early on," Reschenthaler told the Free Beacon. "I felt that it was my duty to try to make sure that the World Health Organization reforms itself, as long as Americans are paying money into it."
Democrats have so far refused to join Republicans in the effort. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) said on Wednesday that the White House's funding hold was "illegal" and vowed to challenge it. Reschenthaler has pushed for bipartisanship but Democrats have been unwilling to publicly sign on to his legislation.
"Sadly, the Democrats are putting politics first and frankly apologizing for the CCP above what's good for the world and what's good for the United States," he said. "I think that if they did put the health of the world first ... they would join my resolution and stop funding the World Health Organization."
Congressional Republicans appear intent on holding the WHO accountable with or without Democratic support. Sen. Todd Young (R., Ind.) has called on Tedros to appear before Congress, while several Republican senators have called for his resignation. The House Oversight Committee has also demanded documents from the WHO pertaining to its relationship with China and Taiwan, and Rep. Jim Banks (R., Ind.) has demanded that the WHO withdraw several "highly misleading statements of support for the Chinese Government's response to COVID-19."
It remains unclear how cooperative the WHO will be with Republican oversight efforts since Congress lacks formal jurisdiction over international institutions. The last time Congress conducted an all-encompassing investigation into an international organization—the 2004-2006 Senate probe into the U.N.'s corrupt Oil-for-Food program—U.N. officials "weren't very cooperative," according to Steven Groves, a former Senate counsel who spearheaded the probe. He said that the Senate investigation was stonewalled by U.N. officials. Many of the records included in the report were obtained from American officials.
"I don't think we ended up actually issuing a subpoena on them—they have immunity," Groves said about the U.N. officials. "The bottom line is that since international organizations are not under our jurisdiction and have immunity from compelled disclosure of anything … you can't force them."
Groves said that while congressional oversight over the WHO will be a "long shot," Congress might be able to convince the WHO to cooperate by leveraging its financial dependency on U.S. contributions.
"[Congress] is in no position to compel the WHO to turn over anything," he said. "Now, the reality of the situation is that the U.S. is the largest funder of WHO. So the WHO will feel some type of obligation to cooperate at some level or another."
The White House review of WHO activity is expected to be completed by July.


freebeacon--2020-04-21--Jury Verdicts Must Be Unanimous for Serious Crimes, Supreme Court Rules

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that the constitutional rule requiring unanimous jury verdicts in criminal trials also applies to the states , overturning a decades-old decision that allowed a few states to convict defendants by a supermajority vote .
In federal courts and the overwhelming majority of states , criminal convictions require a unanimous jury vote .
Under a quirk 1972 decision , juries in state courts were allowed to convict defendants by a supermajority .
Louisiana allowed convictions on a 10-2 or 11-1 vote until 2018 .
Oregon is the last state to allow jury convictions by a supermajority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Justice Neil Gorsuch delivered a fractured majority opinion , while three justices issued their own separate opinions .
Justice Samuel Alito dissented , joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Elena Kagan .
Monday 's opinions featured a continuing debate over the force of precedent .
That discussion looms large over the High Court , as retired justice Anthony Kennedy 's departure called the continued validity of landmark decisions on social issues into question .
Justice Brett Kavanaugh handed down a 20-page concurrence on the Court 's relationship to prior holdings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subject since his confirmation .
The dissent , which accused the majority of giving past decisions `` rough treatment , '' drew a somewhat unusual coalition .
Though Alito and Kagan do not often make common cause in closely divided cases , Kagan has made adherence to precedent a master principle of her legal philosophy .
All told , Monday 's decision was something of a proxy for disputes over basic principles .
Monday 's case arose in 2016 when Evangelisto Ramos stood trial in Louisiana for second-degree murder .
The jury convicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 43-year-old Trinece Fedison .
Ramos was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole .
Ramos argued before the Supreme Court that his non-unanimous conviction was unconstitutional under the Sixth Amendment , which guarantees `` an impartial jury '' to all defendants .
A majority of the justices agreed with Ramos .
In sections of the decision that attracted five votes , Gorsuch said the right to trial by jury has been understood to include a unanimous verdict requirement since the 14th century .
Unanimity , Gorsuch continued , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Wherever we might look to determine what the term ‘ trial by an impartial jury trial ' meant at the time of the Sixth Amendment 's adoption—whether it 's the common law , state practices in the founding era , or opinions and treatises written soon afterward—the answer is unmistakable , '' the decision reads .
`` A jury must reach a unanimous verdict in order to convict . ''
Gorsuch also noted that state laws allowing conviction by a supermajority have a racist pedigree .
Louisiana and Oregon first adopted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crow era , with the specific purpose of diluting the influence of black jurors .
`` Courts in both Louisiana and Oregon have frankly acknowledged that race was a motivating factor in the adoption of their states ' respective non-unanimity rules , '' Gorsuch wrote .
In dissent , Alito chided the majority 's reliance on the racist origins of non-unanimity rules .
He noted that Louisiana and Oregon have since readopted their jury verdict requirements without racist motive , while other jurisdictions such as Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom permit non-unanimous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discourse today is sullied by ad hominem rhetoric , that is , attempts to discredit an argument not by proving that it is unsound but by attacking the character or motives of the argument 's proponents , '' Alito wrote .
`` The majority regrettably succumbs to this trend . ''
That non-unanimous jury verdicts have survived in state courts is something of a fluke .
In a 1972 decision , Apodaca v. Oregon , five justices agreed that jury verdicts in federal court must be unanimous .
But a different coalition of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not apply in state courts .
Justice Lewis Powell was responsible for that discordant result .
In a solo opinion , he made a defense of `` dual track incorporation '' or the idea that the protections of the Bill of Rights operate differently at the state and federal level .
How to handle Apodaca deeply divided the Court on Monday .
Three justices—Gorsuch and Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer—said Apodaca never supplied `` a governing precedent , '' meaning it need not be treated as a controlling case .
Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that treats Apodaca as controlling , but nonetheless argues it should be overturned since it strangely reflects `` a universe of one . ''
In still another separate opinion , Justice Clarence Thomas outlined his own approach to the case that sidestepped Apodaca altogether .
The dissent countered that Apodaca should remain in place because two states have conducted criminal trials for decades on the assumption that supermajority jury verdicts are constitutional .
Monday 's decision raises the possibility that inmates in Louisiana and Oregon will seek new trials , Alito warned .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oregon , trusting that Apodaca is good law , have conducted thousands and thousands of trials under rules allowing non-unanimous verdicts , '' Alito wrote in dissent .
`` Now , those states face a potential tsunami of litigation on the jury unanimity issue . ''
`` At a minimum , all defendants whose cases are still on direct appeal will presumably be entitled to a new trial , '' the dissent adds .
The case is No .
18-5924 Ramos v. Louisiana .

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that the constitutional rule requiring unanimous jury verdicts in criminal trials also applies to the states, overturning a decades-old decision that allowed a few states to convict defendants by a supermajority vote.
In federal courts and the overwhelming majority of states, criminal convictions require a unanimous jury vote. Under a quirk 1972 decision, juries in state courts were allowed to convict defendants by a supermajority. Louisiana allowed convictions on a 10-2 or 11-1 vote until 2018. Oregon is the last state to allow jury convictions by a supermajority.
Six justices supported the bottom-line outcome. Justice Neil Gorsuch delivered a fractured majority opinion, while three justices issued their own separate opinions. Justice Samuel Alito dissented, joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Elena Kagan.
Monday's opinions featured a continuing debate over the force of precedent. That discussion looms large over the High Court, as retired justice Anthony Kennedy's departure called the continued validity of landmark decisions on social issues into question. Justice Brett Kavanaugh handed down a 20-page concurrence on the Court's relationship to prior holdings, his first major writing on the subject since his confirmation. The dissent, which accused the majority of giving past decisions "rough treatment," drew a somewhat unusual coalition. Though Alito and Kagan do not often make common cause in closely divided cases, Kagan has made adherence to precedent a master principle of her legal philosophy. All told, Monday's decision was something of a proxy for disputes over basic principles.
Monday's case arose in 2016 when Evangelisto Ramos stood trial in Louisiana for second-degree murder. The jury convicted Ramos 10-2 for the brutal stabbing death of 43-year-old Trinece Fedison. Ramos was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Ramos argued before the Supreme Court that his non-unanimous conviction was unconstitutional under the Sixth Amendment, which guarantees "an impartial jury" to all defendants. A majority of the justices agreed with Ramos.
In sections of the decision that attracted five votes, Gorsuch said the right to trial by jury has been understood to include a unanimous verdict requirement since the 14th century. Unanimity, Gorsuch continued, has been the prevailing practice throughout American history.
"Wherever we might look to determine what the term 'trial by an impartial jury trial' meant at the time of the Sixth Amendment's adoption—whether it's the common law, state practices in the founding era, or opinions and treatises written soon afterward—the answer is unmistakable," the decision reads. "A jury must reach a unanimous verdict in order to convict."
Gorsuch also noted that state laws allowing conviction by a supermajority have a racist pedigree. Louisiana and Oregon first adopted laws allowing non-unanimous verdicts during the Jim Crow era, with the specific purpose of diluting the influence of black jurors.
"Courts in both Louisiana and Oregon have frankly acknowledged that race was a motivating factor in the adoption of their states' respective non-unanimity rules," Gorsuch wrote.
In dissent, Alito chided the majority's reliance on the racist origins of non-unanimity rules. He noted that Louisiana and Oregon have since readopted their jury verdict requirements without racist motive, while other jurisdictions such as Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom permit non-unanimous jury verdicts.
"Too much public discourse today is sullied by ad hominem rhetoric, that is, attempts to discredit an argument not by proving that it is unsound but by attacking the character or motives of the argument's proponents," Alito wrote. "The majority regrettably succumbs to this trend."
That non-unanimous jury verdicts have survived in state courts is something of a fluke.
In a 1972 decision, Apodaca v. Oregon, five justices agreed that jury verdicts in federal court must be unanimous. But a different coalition of justices also said the unanimity requirement does not apply in state courts. Justice Lewis Powell was responsible for that discordant result. In a solo opinion, he made a defense of "dual track incorporation" or the idea that the protections of the Bill of Rights operate differently at the state and federal level.
How to handle Apodaca deeply divided the Court on Monday. Three justices—Gorsuch and Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer—said Apodaca never supplied "a governing precedent," meaning it need not be treated as a controlling case. Justice Sonia Sotomayor handed down a separate opinion that treats Apodaca as controlling, but nonetheless argues it should be overturned since it strangely reflects "a universe of one." In still another separate opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas outlined his own approach to the case that sidestepped Apodaca altogether.
The dissent countered that Apodaca should remain in place because two states have conducted criminal trials for decades on the assumption that supermajority jury verdicts are constitutional. Monday's decision raises the possibility that inmates in Louisiana and Oregon will seek new trials, Alito warned.
"For 48 years, Louisiana and Oregon, trusting that Apodaca is good law, have conducted thousands and thousands of trials under rules allowing non-unanimous verdicts," Alito wrote in dissent. "Now, those states face a potential tsunami of litigation on the jury unanimity issue."
"At a minimum, all defendants whose cases are still on direct appeal will presumably be entitled to a new trial," the dissent adds.
The case is No. 18-5924 Ramos v. Louisiana.
Ramos v. Louisiana decision by Washington Free Beacon on Scribd


freebeacon--2020-04-21--Report: Kim Jong Un in Worsening Condition After Undergoing Cardiovascular Procedure

SEOUL ( Reuters ) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is receiving treatment after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure early this month , a South Korean media report said , amid speculation over Kim ’ s health following his absence from a key anniversary event .
North Korea marked the anniversary of the birthday of its founding father and Kim ’ s grandfather , Kim Il Sung , as a national holiday on April 15 , but Kim was not seen in attendance .
Daily NK , a speciality website run mostly by North Korean defectors , cited unidentified sources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovering at a villa in the Mount Kumgang resort county of Hyangsan on the east coast after getting the procedure on April 12 at a hospital there .
Reporting from inside North Korea is notoriously difficult , especially on matters concerning the country ’ s leadership , given tight controls on information .
South Korea ’ s Unification Ministry , which handles inter-Korean affairs , declined to comment on the report .
Kim ’ s health has deteriorated in recent months due to heavy smoking , obesity and overwork , the Daily NK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he had been struggling ( with cardiovascular problems ) since last August but it worsened after repeated visits to Mount Paektu , '' a source was quoted as saying , referring to the country ’ s sacred mountain .
Kim left for the hospital after presiding over a meeting of the ruling Workers ’ Party ’ s politburo on April 11 , where Kim was publicly last seen , the report said .
Pyongyang fired multiple short-range missiles last week which Seoul officials said were also part of the Kim Il Sung @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usually be observed by Kim , but there was no KCNA report on the test at all .

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is receiving treatment after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure early this month, a South Korean media report said, amid speculation over Kim’s health following his absence from a key anniversary event.
North Korea marked the anniversary of the birthday of its founding father and Kim’s grandfather, Kim Il Sung, as a national holiday on April 15, but Kim was not seen in attendance.
Daily NK, a speciality website run mostly by North Korean defectors, cited unidentified sources inside the isolated state saying Kim is recovering at a villa in the Mount Kumgang resort county of Hyangsan on the east coast after getting the procedure on April 12 at a hospital there.
Reporting from inside North Korea is notoriously difficult, especially on matters concerning the country’s leadership, given tight controls on information.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, declined to comment on the report.
Kim’s health has deteriorated in recent months due to heavy smoking, obesity and overwork, the Daily NK report said.
"My understanding is that he had been struggling (with cardiovascular problems) since last August but it worsened after repeated visits to Mount Paektu," a source was quoted as saying, referring to the country’s sacred mountain.
Kim left for the hospital after presiding over a meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party’s politburo on April 11, where Kim was publicly last seen, the report said.
Pyongyang fired multiple short-range missiles last week which Seoul officials said were also part of the Kim Il Sung birthday celebration. Such military events would usually be observed by Kim, but there was no KCNA report on the test at all.


freebeacon--2020-04-21--Trump: Immigration Ban Will Be in Effect for at Least 60 Days

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – President Donald Trump said on Tuesday his new U.S. immigration ban would last for 60 days and apply to those seeking `` green cards '' for permanent residency in an effort to protect Americans seeking to regain jobs lost because of the coronavirus .
Trump plans to institute the ban through an executive order , which he said he was likely to sign on Wednesday .
He said it would not apply to individuals entering the United States on a temporary basis and would be re-evaluated once the 60-day period had passed .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laid off by the virus to be replaced with new immigrant labor flown in from abroad .
We must first take care of the American worker , '' Trump told reporters at the White House .
He said there would be some exemptions in the order and he could renew it for another 60 days or even longer .
The president won the White House in 2016 in part on a promise to crack down on immigration .
Critics saw his announcement as a move to take advantage of a crisis to implement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration official said the administration was looking at a separate action to cover others affected by U.S. immigration policy , including those on so-called H-1B visas .
The order would include exemptions for people involved in responding to the coronavirus outbreak , including farm workers and those helping to secure U.S. food supplies , he said .
The official said as the country begins to open up its economy , immigration flows were expected to increase , and the administration wanted to ensure that employers hire back fired workers rather than giving jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed that a secondary order was under consideration for a separate time .
The U.S. Department of State issued roughly 462,000 immigrant visas in fiscal year 2019 , which began on Oct. 1 , 2018 .
The visas allow an immigrant to obtain lawful permanent resident status , informally known as a green card .
The status allows a person to live and work in the United States and apply for citizenship after a five-year period .
Critics viewed Trump ’ s new policy as an effort to distract from his response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a malevolent distraction , '' said Neera Tanden , president of the Center for American Progress , a left-leaning policy institute in Washington .
Giovanni Peri , an economics professor at the University of California , Davis , said researchers generally agree that immigration into the United States has stimulated economic growth , increased the size of the economy and created jobs .
`` The idea that immigration threatens American jobs is just not there in any data , '' he said .
Under the separate immigration action , technology industry workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ updated certifications to the government that they are not displacing American workers .
That was one of a handful of proposals being looked at .
Early in his presidency Trump issued an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security , which oversees U.S .
Citizenship and Immigration Services ( USCIS ) , to tighten its policies on H-1B visas , which are used heavily by the tech industry to bring over skilled workers .
Critics of the visas say they have been monopolized by staffing firms that bring over workers that displace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the visas are also used by the healthcare and education sectors and other businesses recruiting workers who generally have bachelor ’ s or higher degrees .
The United States has more coronavirus cases than any other country by far .
Immigration advocates scoffed at the contention that cutting off immigration was being done to protect Americans ’ health .
Immigration is effectively cut off anyway at the moment through border restrictions and flight bans put in place to stop the virus ’ s spread .
Andrea Flores , a deputy policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which has sued over a number of Trump immigration policies , said Trump appeared `` more interested in fanning anti-immigrant flames than in saving lives '' with his latest proposal .
The Trump campaign plans to highlight immigration again in the 2020 election battle .
The coronavirus outbreak has dramatically altered priorities among many Americans over the past few months , especially within President Trump ’ s Republican Party , according to the Reuters/Ipsos public opinion poll .
Its latest survey , conducted April 15-21 , found that the economy has replaced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Reporting by Jeff Mason , Steve Holland and Ted Hesson ; additional reporting by Mica Rosenberg , Chris Kahn , Timothy Ahmann and Doina Chiacu ; Editing by Tom Brown

By Jeff Mason, Steve Holland, Ted Hesson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Tuesday his new U.S. immigration ban would last for 60 days and apply to those seeking "green cards" for permanent residency in an effort to protect Americans seeking to regain jobs lost because of the coronavirus.
Trump plans to institute the ban through an executive order, which he said he was likely to sign on Wednesday. He said it would not apply to individuals entering the United States on a temporary basis and would be re-evaluated once the 60-day period had passed.
"It would be wrong and unjust for Americans laid off by the virus to be replaced with new immigrant labor flown in from abroad. We must first take care of the American worker," Trump told reporters at the White House. He said there would be some exemptions in the order and he could renew it for another 60 days or even longer.
The president won the White House in 2016 in part on a promise to crack down on immigration. Critics saw his announcement as a move to take advantage of a crisis to implement a long-sought policy goal.
The order could spark legal action.
A senior administration official said the administration was looking at a separate action to cover others affected by U.S. immigration policy, including those on so-called H-1B visas.
The order would include exemptions for people involved in responding to the coronavirus outbreak, including farm workers and those helping to secure U.S. food supplies, he said.
The official said as the country begins to open up its economy, immigration flows were expected to increase, and the administration wanted to ensure that employers hire back fired workers rather than giving jobs to immigrants at lower wages.
Trump confirmed that a secondary order was under consideration for a separate time.
The U.S. Department of State issued roughly 462,000 immigrant visas in fiscal year 2019, which began on Oct. 1, 2018. The visas allow an immigrant to obtain lawful permanent resident status, informally known as a green card. The status allows a person to live and work in the United States and apply for citizenship after a five-year period.
Critics viewed Trump’s new policy as an effort to distract from his response to the pandemic.
"I think this is a malevolent distraction," said Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning policy institute in Washington.
Giovanni Peri, an economics professor at the University of California, Davis, said researchers generally agree that immigration into the United States has stimulated economic growth, increased the size of the economy and created jobs.
"The idea that immigration threatens American jobs is just not there in any data," he said.
FANNING FLAMES
Under the separate immigration action, technology industry workers with H-1B visas may need to provide updated certifications to the government that they are not displacing American workers. That was one of a handful of proposals being looked at.
Early in his presidency Trump issued an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), to tighten its policies on H-1B visas, which are used heavily by the tech industry to bring over skilled workers.
Critics of the visas say they have been monopolized by staffing firms that bring over workers that displace Americans, often in back-office technical jobs. But the visas are also used by the healthcare and education sectors and other businesses recruiting workers who generally have bachelor’s or higher degrees.
The United States has more coronavirus cases than any other country by far. Immigration advocates scoffed at the contention that cutting off immigration was being done to protect Americans’ health.
Immigration is effectively cut off anyway at the moment through border restrictions and flight bans put in place to stop the virus’s spread.
Andrea Flores, a deputy policy director with the American Civil Liberties Union, which has sued over a number of Trump immigration policies, said Trump appeared "more interested in fanning anti-immigrant flames than in saving lives" with his latest proposal.
The Trump campaign plans to highlight immigration again in the 2020 election battle. The coronavirus outbreak has dramatically altered priorities among many Americans over the past few months, especially within President Trump’s Republican Party, according to the Reuters/Ipsos public opinion poll. Its latest survey, conducted April 15-21, found that the economy has replaced immigration as the most-cited concern for Republicans.
Reporting by Jeff Mason, Steve Holland and Ted Hesson; additional reporting by Mica Rosenberg, Chris Kahn, Timothy Ahmann and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Tom Brown


freebeacon--2020-04-21--Facing Criticism, Whitmer Rescinds Contract Awarded to Dem Consulting Firm

Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan announced late Tuesday that the state was rescinding a contract to track the spread of the coronavirus that she had awarded to a Democratic consulting firm , according to Crain 's Detroit .
The organization , Great Lakes Community Engagement , is run by Democratic political consultant Mike Kolehouse , who planned to use a software vendor affiliated with a Democratic data firm that is working for the governor 's reelection campaign .
Whitmer 's decision to hire Democratic political operatives to run a public health project sparked immediate backlash , the Washington Free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office said she had terminated the contract .
Kolehouse is the owner of K2K Consulting , an umbrella organization tied to both Great Lakes Community Engagement and Kolehouse Strategies .
Both have done extensive field work for Democratic causes .
Kolehouse in turn retained as a partner in the contract-tracing operation an arm of the Democratic consulting firm NGP VAN , which is currently working with Whitmer 's reelection campaign .
NGP VAN said it had not been contracted by the state but declined further comment .
For Whitmer , who has rocketed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in part through clashes with President Donald Trump , it was an unforced and potentially costly error .
Since instituting a firm stay-at-home order in late March , Whitmer 's name has been bandied about as a potential vice presidential nominee , though she told the Washington Post on Tuesday that she had n't `` yet '' been contacted by the campaign of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
Republicans and the news media began raising questions about the contracts after they were announced in a press release Monday evening , pressing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were hired to run a massive public health project .
Some expressed concern that the Democratic firms would appropriate the personal data of Michigan residents for political gain , a charge they denied .
The press release came from the State Emergency Operations Center , though a spokeswoman for the governor told the Free Beacon after publication that the organization had not approved the contract and that the organization would select the subsequent vendor for the contact tracing project .
`` This contract should have been approved by the State Emergency Operations Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a different vendor and software platform will be selected by the SEOC , '' the spokeswoman said .
`` The state is committed to ensuring this important tracing work can begin quickly to help save lives , while also ensuring that public health data is safe and secure . ''
A spokeswoman for the State Emergency Operations Center did not respond to a request for comment .
According to a copy of the contract obtained by Crain 's , Great Lakes Community Engagement began working on the project on April 1 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced publicly .
NGP VAN , which was paid nearly $ 5,000 by Whitmer 's campaign in 2019 and is working on her reelection campaign , said the Democratic firm would not appropriate the data it gleaned from Michigan residents .
`` NGP VAN 's CRM outreach software is used by a large number of nonprofits , governments , and corporations to manage their contacts with people , '' a spokesman for the company , Max Kamin-Cross , told the Free Beacon on Tuesday .
`` Each client owns their own data ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are proud to be helping reduce the number of coronavirus deaths . ''
Though NGP VAN 's software was being used by Great Lakes Community Engagement , Kamin-Cross said it never had a contract with the state of Michigan , though the press release explicitly stated that both groups were contracted .
`` We were not contracted with the state of Michigan at any point , '' Kamin-Cross said .
`` Beyond that , we 're unfortunately unable to provide details on specific clients . ''
Whitmer 's spokeswoman told the Free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one contract — with Kolehouse 's firm — and that he in turn had tapped NGP Van .
Kolehouse did not respond to a request for comment .
After a local county commissioner , Wes Nakagiri , was trained to participate in the program as a volunteer , he accused Whitmer of using the coronavirus tracking effort for political gain .
The Republican highlighted training materials listing Kolehouse Strategies and NGP VAN as partners in the effort , saying he was troubled to see that health information was `` being stored in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partisan Democrat campaign companies , the Whitmer administration has chosen to politicize the COVID-19 crisis , '' Nakagiri said .

Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan announced late Tuesday that the state was rescinding a contract to track the spread of the coronavirus that she had awarded to a Democratic consulting firm, according to Crain's Detroit.
The organization, Great Lakes Community Engagement, is run by Democratic political consultant Mike Kolehouse, who planned to use a software vendor affiliated with a Democratic data firm that is working for the governor's reelection campaign. Whitmer's decision to hire Democratic political operatives to run a public health project sparked immediate backlash, the Washington Free Beacon reported just hours before Whitmer's office said she had terminated the contract.
Kolehouse is the owner of K2K Consulting, an umbrella organization tied to both Great Lakes Community Engagement and Kolehouse Strategies. Both have done extensive field work for Democratic causes. Kolehouse in turn retained as a partner in the contract-tracing operation an arm of the Democratic consulting firm NGP VAN, which is currently working with Whitmer's reelection campaign. NGP VAN said it had not been contracted by the state but declined further comment.
For Whitmer, who has rocketed to national prominence during the coronavirus scandal in part through clashes with President Donald Trump, it was an unforced and potentially costly error. Since instituting a firm stay-at-home order in late March, Whitmer's name has been bandied about as a potential vice presidential nominee, though she told the Washington Post on Tuesday that she hadn't "yet" been contacted by the campaign of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
Republicans and the news media began raising questions about the contracts after they were announced in a press release Monday evening, pressing the governor about why Democratic political operatives were hired to run a massive public health project. Some expressed concern that the Democratic firms would appropriate the personal data of Michigan residents for political gain, a charge they denied.
The press release came from the State Emergency Operations Center, though a spokeswoman for the governor told the Free Beacon after publication that the organization had not approved the contract and that the organization would select the subsequent vendor for the contact tracing project.
"This contract should have been approved by the State Emergency Operations Center. This issue is being corrected, and a different vendor and software platform will be selected by the SEOC," the spokeswoman said. "The state is committed to ensuring this important tracing work can begin quickly to help save lives, while also ensuring that public health data is safe and secure."
A spokeswoman for the State Emergency Operations Center did not respond to a request for comment.
According to a copy of the contract obtained by Crain's, Great Lakes Community Engagement began working on the project on April 1, nearly three weeks before the project was announced publicly.
The contract with Great Lakes Community Engagement (an LLC of a Grand Rapids Dem political consultant Mike Kolehouse) says it can be terminated without cause. Kolehouse declined to comment earlier today and again after gov's office pulled the contract.https://t.co/N82FxSVGQg pic.twitter.com/AKwV2GECnB — Chad Livengood (@ChadLivengood) April 21, 2020
NGP VAN, which was paid nearly $5,000 by Whitmer's campaign in 2019 and is working on her reelection campaign, said the Democratic firm would not appropriate the data it gleaned from Michigan residents.
"NGP VAN's CRM outreach software is used by a large number of nonprofits, governments, and corporations to manage their contacts with people," a spokesman for the company, Max Kamin-Cross, told the Free Beacon on Tuesday. "Each client owns their own data; we are not a data company. We are proud to be helping reduce the number of coronavirus deaths."
Though NGP VAN's software was being used by Great Lakes Community Engagement, Kamin-Cross said it never had a contract with the state of Michigan, though the press release explicitly stated that both groups were contracted.
"We were not contracted with the state of Michigan at any point," Kamin-Cross said. "Beyond that, we're unfortunately unable to provide details on specific clients."
Whitmer's spokeswoman told the Free Beacon that the state had signed just one contract -- with Kolehouse's firm -- and that he in turn had tapped NGP Van. Kolehouse did not respond to a request for comment.
After a local county commissioner, Wes Nakagiri, was trained to participate in the program as a volunteer, he accused Whitmer of using the coronavirus tracking effort for political gain. The Republican highlighted training materials listing Kolehouse Strategies and NGP VAN as partners in the effort, saying he was troubled to see that health information was "being stored in a Democrat-aligned database."
"By selecting partisan Democrat campaign companies, the Whitmer administration has chosen to politicize the COVID-19 crisis," Nakagiri said.


freebeacon--2020-04-21--Senate Passes $500 Billion More for Coronavirus Bailout

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – The U.S. Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved $ 484 billion in additional coronavirus relief for the U.S. economy and hospitals treating people sickened by the pandemic , sending the measure to the House of Representatives for final passage later this week .
The bill , approved by the Senate on a voice vote in a near-empty chamber , was hurried along shortly after congressional leaders and the White House brokered an agreement .
The House is expected to vote on Thursday on what would be the fourth coronavirus-response law .
Taken together , the four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in aid since last month to confront a crisis that has killed more than 43,000 Americans .
President Donald Trump urged Congress to give quick approval to the measure , which mainly expands funding for loans to small businesses hobbled by the pandemic , leaving additional aid to state and local governments for a later bill .
Previously , Washington provided nearly $ 350 billion in loans to small businesses impacted by the coronavirus that can turn into grants if certain requirements are met .
That funding was quickly exhausted .
Critics of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money had gone to larger , better-connected businesses .
To combat that , Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said , $ 125 billion of small business funds in the latest package would go to `` mom and pop '' and minority-owned stores .
Noting the `` crash timeline '' for passing the bill , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , a Republican , said it was necessary during `` unprecedented times for the entire nation . ''
The deal includes $ 321 billion for a small business lending program , $ 60 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – also for small businesses , as well as $ 75 billion for hospitals and $ 25 billion for national coronavirus testing .
Schumer , during a short debate , highlighted the bill ’ s funds for fighting the coronavirus , in addition to the aid for small businesses .
`` We can give loans to small businesses , but if there ’ s no customers walking the streets to go into their stores , what good is that ? ''
Schumer said .
Congress already is working on a fifth coronavirus-response bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar in size '' to the $ 2.3 trillion economic stimulus enacted on March 27 .
With each passing week , Washington has been confronted with a deepening crisis that has prompted Republicans and Democrats to work in a mostly bipartisan way to ease the heavy human and economic toll of a pandemic that has sickened more than 795,000 in the United States and thrown more than 22 million people out of work .
The U.S. economy has been battered as businesses have closed and residents have observed stay-at-home orders intended to minimize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contagious respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus .
While Republicans initially insisted the latest bill provide new funding only for small businesses , Democrats succeeded in broadening it to hospitals and other healthcare centers and more money for coronavirus testing .
Democrats were not able to convince Republicans to increase emergency federal funding for state and local governments reeling from steep revenue losses due to the virus , and infrastructure spending that Democrats have been requesting throughout the crisis .
Trump , however , said in a Twitter posting that he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local governments and would look for ways to include infrastructure investments in the next bill .
Reporting by Susan Cornwell , Patricia Zengerle and Lisa Lambert ; additional reporting by Tim Ahmann ; writing by Susan Cornwell , Patricia Zengerle and Richard Cowan ; Editing by Scott Malone , Jonathan Oatis and Dan Grebler

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved $484 billion in additional coronavirus relief for the U.S. economy and hospitals treating people sickened by the pandemic, sending the measure to the House of Representatives for final passage later this week.
The bill, approved by the Senate on a voice vote in a near-empty chamber, was hurried along shortly after congressional leaders and the White House brokered an agreement.
The House is expected to vote on Thursday on what would be the fourth coronavirus-response law. Taken together, the four measures amount to about $3 trillion in aid since last month to confront a crisis that has killed more than 43,000 Americans.
President Donald Trump urged Congress to give quick approval to the measure, which mainly expands funding for loans to small businesses hobbled by the pandemic, leaving additional aid to state and local governments for a later bill.
Previously, Washington provided nearly $350 billion in loans to small businesses impacted by the coronavirus that can turn into grants if certain requirements are met. That funding was quickly exhausted.
Critics of the program said too much of the money had gone to larger, better-connected businesses. To combat that, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said, $125 billion of small business funds in the latest package would go to "mom and pop" and minority-owned stores.
Noting the "crash timeline" for passing the bill, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, said it was necessary during "unprecedented times for the entire nation."
The deal includes $321 billion for a small business lending program, $60 billion for a separate emergency disaster loan program - also for small businesses, as well as $75 billion for hospitals and $25 billion for national coronavirus testing.
Schumer, during a short debate, highlighted the bill’s funds for fighting the coronavirus, in addition to the aid for small businesses.
"We can give loans to small businesses, but if there’s no customers walking the streets to go into their stores, what good is that?" Schumer said.
Congress already is working on a fifth coronavirus-response bill. Schumer said it could be "similar in size" to the $2.3 trillion economic stimulus enacted on March 27.
With each passing week, Washington has been confronted with a deepening crisis that has prompted Republicans and Democrats to work in a mostly bipartisan way to ease the heavy human and economic toll of a pandemic that has sickened more than 795,000 in the United States and thrown more than 22 million people out of work.
The U.S. economy has been battered as businesses have closed and residents have observed stay-at-home orders intended to minimize the spread of COVID-19, the highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus.
While Republicans initially insisted the latest bill provide new funding only for small businesses, Democrats succeeded in broadening it to hospitals and other healthcare centers and more money for coronavirus testing.
Democrats were not able to convince Republicans to increase emergency federal funding for state and local governments reeling from steep revenue losses due to the virus, and infrastructure spending that Democrats have been requesting throughout the crisis.
Trump, however, said in a Twitter posting that he would engage in talks on helping state and local governments and would look for ways to include infrastructure investments in the next bill.
Reporting by Susan Cornwell, Patricia Zengerle and Lisa Lambert; additional reporting by Tim Ahmann; writing by Susan Cornwell, Patricia Zengerle and Richard Cowan; Editing by Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis and Dan Grebler