talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-18--Biden Team Puts Foot Down Over GOP Effort To Handcuff Fed As Trump Leaves Office

President-elect Joe Biden ’ s transition team on Friday decried Republicans ’ efforts to shackle the Federal Reserve as Biden enters office .
Both sides in recent days have indicated they ’ re close to a deal on a stimulus bill aimed at buoying the U.S. economy as it weathers the COVID-19 storm .
But reports Thursday and Friday indicated Republicans wanted to rein in the Federal Reserve ’ s powers to help businesses and municipalities stay afloat , efforts it ’ s pursued for months through programs set up in the last COVID-19 stimulus bill , but which the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cut off as Trump leaves office .
The stimulus “ should not include unnecessary provisions that would hamper the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve ’ s ability to fight economic crises , ” incoming National Economic Council Director Brian Deese said in a statement released through the transition .
“ As we navigate through an unprecedented economic crisis , it is in the interests of the American people to maintain the Fed ’ s ability to respond quickly and forcefully , ” Deese said .
“ Undermining that authority could mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher unemployment , and greater economic pain across the nation .
Congress ’ s good faith effort to deliver immediate relief should not be delayed by provisions that could put our future financial stability at risk.
” Republicans , with an eye on President Donald Trump ’ s impending exit from the White House , are trying to prevent the Federal Reserve from continuing to use the lending powers it ’ s employed through the pandemic once Biden takes over .
Among other things , the Fed has used funds appropriated through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lender to businesses struggling with dramatic COVID-related declines , as well as to support local governments .
“ It is not the role of our central bank , the Fed , to engage in fiscal policy , social policy or allocating credit , ” Sen. Pat Toomey ( R-PA ) , the incoming chair of the Senate Banking Committee and the leader of the effort to restrict the Fed , said on a conference call Thursday .
The GOP proposal “ is radical and reckless , ” said Rep. Donna Shalala ( D-FL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Congressional Oversight Commission , in a statement on Thursday .
“ It limits the ability of the Biden Administration to address our current economic crisis and it undermines the Fed ’ s ability — not just now , but indefinitely — to respond to future financial crises.
” The legislative language that would make the emergency lending funds expire on Dec. 31 has the support of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin , an unnamed senior administration official told The New York Times .
Mnuchin has himself tried to tie the incoming administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announcing in November — following Trump ’ s loss — that the Treasury Department would claw back CARES Act dollars from the Federal Reserve at the end of the year .
On Friday , shortly after the Deese ’ s statement , the Democratic chairs of the House Financial Services and Ways & Means committees called Toomey ’ s provision a “ poison pill ” and “ dangerous.
” “ An agreement on a coronavirus relief bill was within sight , but Senate Republicans are now holding up the entire package over this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovery under the Biden Administration , ” the chairs , Reps. Maxine Waters ( D-CA ) and Richard Neal ( D-MA ) , wrote .
“ Senate Republicans ’ extreme demand threatens to derail this urgently needed action , and it must be immediately abandoned so that we can move forward , ” they added .

President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team on Friday decried Republicans’ efforts to shackle the Federal Reserve as Biden enters office.
Both sides in recent days have indicated they’re close to a deal on a stimulus bill aimed at buoying the U.S. economy as it weathers the COVID-19 storm.
But reports Thursday and Friday indicated Republicans wanted to rein in the Federal Reserve’s powers to help businesses and municipalities stay afloat, efforts it’s pursued for months through programs set up in the last COVID-19 stimulus bill, but which the Trump administration and congressional Republicans have sought to cut off as Trump leaves office.
The stimulus “should not include unnecessary provisions that would hamper the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve’s ability to fight economic crises,” incoming National Economic Council Director Brian Deese said in a statement released through the transition.
“As we navigate through an unprecedented economic crisis, it is in the interests of the American people to maintain the Fed’s ability to respond quickly and forcefully,” Deese said. “Undermining that authority could mean less lending to Main Street businesses, higher unemployment, and greater economic pain across the nation. Congress’s good faith effort to deliver immediate relief should not be delayed by provisions that could put our future financial stability at risk.”
Republicans, with an eye on President Donald Trump’s impending exit from the White House, are trying to prevent the Federal Reserve from continuing to use the lending powers it’s employed through the pandemic once Biden takes over.
Among other things, the Fed has used funds appropriated through the CARES Act to serve as an emergency lender to businesses struggling with dramatic COVID-related declines, as well as to support local governments.
“It is not the role of our central bank, the Fed, to engage in fiscal policy, social policy or allocating credit,” Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA), the incoming chair of the Senate Banking Committee and the leader of the effort to restrict the Fed, said on a conference call Thursday.
The GOP proposal “is radical and reckless,” said Rep. Donna Shalala (D-FL) and Bharat Ramamurti, both members of the Congressional Oversight Commission, in a statement on Thursday. “It limits the ability of the Biden Administration to address our current economic crisis and it undermines the Fed’s ability — not just now, but indefinitely — to respond to future financial crises.”
Senate Republicans are once again holding up COVID negotiations. Now they want to handicap the Federal Reserve's ability to support our economy and struggling communities. This has to stop. Americans are suffering, and they're trying to nickel-and-dime your COVID relief. — Sherrod Brown (@SenSherrodBrown) December 18, 2020
The legislative language that would make the emergency lending funds expire on Dec. 31 has the support of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, an unnamed senior administration official told The New York Times.
Mnuchin has himself tried to tie the incoming administration’s hands on this front, announcing in November — following Trump’s loss — that the Treasury Department would claw back CARES Act dollars from the Federal Reserve at the end of the year.
On Friday, shortly after the Deese’s statement, the Democratic chairs of the House Financial Services and Ways & Means committees called Toomey’s provision a “poison pill” and “dangerous.”
“An agreement on a coronavirus relief bill was within sight, but Senate Republicans are now holding up the entire package over this unacceptable provision designed to sabotage the economic recovery under the Biden Administration,” the chairs, Reps. Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Richard Neal (D-MA), wrote.
“Senate Republicans’ extreme demand threatens to derail this urgently needed action, and it must be immediately abandoned so that we can move forward,” they added.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-18--Biden Calls Graham A ‘Personal Disappointment’ After Years Of Friendship

President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday called Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) a “ personal disappointment ” after the South Carolina lawmaker , once a personal friend to Biden , has totally acquiesced to President Trump and backing the President ’ s efforts to undermine the will of the American people by seeking to overturn election results in several key battleground states .
“ Lindsey ’ s been a personal disappointment , because I was a personal friend of his , ” Biden told The Late Show ’ s Stephen Colbert in an interview on Thursday when asked if he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friendship with the Republican senator .
“ But look , I think that I can work with Republican leadership in the House and the Senate , ” Biden said .
“ I think we can get things done.
” The unlikely friendship between the two has been documented for years , and Graham , who now refuses to recognize Biden ’ s election victory , once even called Trump ’ s successor “ as good a man as God ever created.
” The President-elect ’ s disapproval of Graham follows the Senate Judiciary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brad Raffensperger ( R ) to discard legal ballots in the Peach State , according to a report weeks after the election from the Washington Post .
Biden told the CBS host when asked if he was offended by Republicans who have for weeks tried to baselessly challenge election results , that he had received congratulatory messages privately from a number of Republican lawmakers “ four weeks ago.
” The President-elect added that he respected the request from several of his former colleagues for time to process the election and move on .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in office I think you ’ re going to see his impact on the body politic fade , and a lot of these Republicans are going to feel they have much more room to run and cooperate , ” Biden said .

President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday called Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) a “personal disappointment” after the South Carolina lawmaker, once a personal friend to Biden, has totally acquiesced to President Trump and backing the President’s efforts to undermine the will of the American people by seeking to overturn election results in several key battleground states.
Joe Biden won't say whether he can "patch it up" with Lindsey Graham after everything Graham's said and done lately. "Lindsey’s been a personal disappointment because I was a personal friend of his." pic.twitter.com/d9ciMlauf7 — Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) December 18, 2020
“Lindsey’s been a personal disappointment, because I was a personal friend of his,” Biden told The Late Show’s Stephen Colbert in an interview on Thursday when asked if he would be able to repair his longtime friendship with the Republican senator.
“But look, I think that I can work with Republican leadership in the House and the Senate,” Biden said. “I think we can get things done.”
The unlikely friendship between the two has been documented for years, and Graham, who now refuses to recognize Biden’s election victory, once even called Trump’s successor “as good a man as God ever created.”
The President-elect’s disapproval of Graham follows the Senate Judiciary Committee Chair urging Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) to discard legal ballots in the Peach State, according to a report weeks after the election from the Washington Post.
Biden told the CBS host when asked if he was offended by Republicans who have for weeks tried to baselessly challenge election results, that he had received congratulatory messages privately from a number of Republican lawmakers “four weeks ago.” The President-elect added that he respected the request from several of his former colleagues for time to process the election and move on.
“Once this president is no longer in office I think you’re going to see his impact on the body politic fade, and a lot of these Republicans are going to feel they have much more room to run and cooperate,” Biden said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-18--Azar Took Swipe At Pfizer Before Firm Said It Was Waiting For Orders On Vaccine Distribution

More than a dozen states are now expecting far fewer doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine next week , with no explanation from the Trump administration for why the shipments have been cut .
It ’ s still not clear what has happened here .
The Trump administration hasn ’ t offered a full account of why the shipments were cut , while Pfizer maintains that there are “ millions more doses sitting in our warehouse , ” waiting for orders for shipment .
The story blew up yesterday afternoon .
But yesterday morning , after states had first been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gained widespread attention , HHS Secretary Alex Azar burned Pfizer in a CNBC appearance , accusing the company of being opaque in its manufacturing processes and failing to get up to speed in time .
“ We don ’ t have complete visibility into their manufacturing , because they ’ ve kept that a bit more arm ’ s length , ” Azar said .
“ Now , I ’ d like to see that changed , I ’ d like to have a bit more visibility into that and we are willing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has to assist them in maximizing their yields and increasing production capacity.
” Azar also said , without explanation , that Pfizer itself had cut the amount of doses that it originally committed it could deliver to the U.S .
He said that Pfizer had first stated that it could produce 100 million vaccine doses by the end of the year , but that “ they had to cut that in half to 50 million.
” Trump officials have promised to deliver 20 million Pfizer vaccine doses to the states before the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shipment reductions suggests that Operation Warp Speed may not meet that target .
Azar raised the topic following a question about why the Trump administration failed to order an additional 100 million doses from Pfizer before other countries did , placing additional U.S. deliveries beyond the initial 100 million until the summer .
“ I do wish we would stop just talking about this Pfizer thing , ” Azar complained .
“ We got 100 million from Pfizer through March 31 — about 20 million a month.
” He went on to complain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s manufacturing system , and suggested that the U.S. would be able to receive more doses from the company before the summer .
Azar , however , tied that to some sort of unspecified government action that would improve the company ’ s production lines .
“ We ’ re very optimistic that we ’ ll secure additional quantities in the second quarter , but they ’ re gon na need help from us on their manufacturing , ” Azar said .
Later on Thursday , Pfizer said the Trump administration had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where to ship doses of the vaccine that are in its warehouse , and Trump officials cast blame on the company for unspecified manufacturing deficiencies .
The confusion comes as the Trump administration has scrambled to coax Pfizer to ship more doses of its two-shot COVID-19 vaccine before the summer .
The evening before Azar ’ s interview , the New York Times reported that the company could potentially ship more doses sooner if the Trump administration prioritized raw material supplies to the company .
Azar said in the Wednesday interview that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pfizer ’ s processes .
“ We have a $ 2 billion commitment for those first 100 million doses , but they ’ ve kept things more arm ’ s length — at their insistence — throughout , ” Azar said , before adding that he ’ d “ like to have more visibility ” into their production .
It ’ s not clear what that means .
It ’ s also unclear why federal officials reportedly said that Pfizer is to blame for the reduced cadence in vaccine shipments over the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the manufacturing issues were related to the “ proximate , immediate term of what Pfizer can deliver out of their manufacturing.
” “ We ’ re maximizing that , we ’ ll help them obviously get higher yields if they ’ re willing to take our help , but this is all second quarter at this point that we ’ re talking about , ” he added .
Azar reiterated in the interview , amid his somewhat veiled criticism of the pharmaceutical firm , that the “ U.S .
is getting its share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine.
” “ We ’ re having constructive discussions with them and seeing where we can get to on that , ” he added .

More than a dozen states are now expecting far fewer doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine next week, with no explanation from the Trump administration for why the shipments have been cut.
It’s still not clear what has happened here. The Trump administration hasn’t offered a full account of why the shipments were cut, while Pfizer maintains that there are “millions more doses sitting in our warehouse,” waiting for orders for shipment.
The story blew up yesterday afternoon. But yesterday morning, after states had first been informed of the reduction but before it gained widespread attention, HHS Secretary Alex Azar burned Pfizer in a CNBC appearance, accusing the company of being opaque in its manufacturing processes and failing to get up to speed in time.
“We don’t have complete visibility into their manufacturing, because they’ve kept that a bit more arm’s length,” Azar said. “Now, I’d like to see that changed, I’d like to have a bit more visibility into that and we are willing to provide every tool the U.S. government has to assist them in maximizing their yields and increasing production capacity.”
Azar also said, without explanation, that Pfizer itself had cut the amount of doses that it originally committed it could deliver to the U.S. He said that Pfizer had first stated that it could produce 100 million vaccine doses by the end of the year, but that “they had to cut that in half to 50 million.”
Trump officials have promised to deliver 20 million Pfizer vaccine doses to the states before the end of the year. The wave of shipment reductions suggests that Operation Warp Speed may not meet that target.
Azar raised the topic following a question about why the Trump administration failed to order an additional 100 million doses from Pfizer before other countries did, placing additional U.S. deliveries beyond the initial 100 million until the summer.
“I do wish we would stop just talking about this Pfizer thing,” Azar complained. “We got 100 million from Pfizer through March 31 — about 20 million a month.”
He went on to complain about supposed problems in the pharmaceutical giant’s manufacturing system, and suggested that the U.S. would be able to receive more doses from the company before the summer. Azar, however, tied that to some sort of unspecified government action that would improve the company’s production lines.
“We’re very optimistic that we’ll secure additional quantities in the second quarter, but they’re gonna need help from us on their manufacturing,” Azar said.
Later on Thursday, Pfizer said the Trump administration had not yet given the company directions on where to ship doses of the vaccine that are in its warehouse, and Trump officials cast blame on the company for unspecified manufacturing deficiencies.
The confusion comes as the Trump administration has scrambled to coax Pfizer to ship more doses of its two-shot COVID-19 vaccine before the summer. The evening before Azar’s interview, the New York Times reported that the company could potentially ship more doses sooner if the Trump administration prioritized raw material supplies to the company.
Azar said in the Wednesday interview that he also wanted “more visibility” into Pfizer’s processes.
“We have a $2 billion commitment for those first 100 million doses, but they’ve kept things more arm’s length — at their insistence — throughout,” Azar said, before adding that he’d “like to have more visibility” into their production.
It’s not clear what that means. It’s also unclear why federal officials reportedly said that Pfizer is to blame for the reduced cadence in vaccine shipments over the next week.
Azar added that none of the manufacturing issues were related to the “proximate, immediate term of what Pfizer can deliver out of their manufacturing.”
“We’re maximizing that, we’ll help them obviously get higher yields if they’re willing to take our help, but this is all second quarter at this point that we’re talking about,” he added.
Azar reiterated in the interview, amid his somewhat veiled criticism of the pharmaceutical firm, that the “U.S. is getting its share and we’re obviously distributing their vaccine.”
“We’re having constructive discussions with them and seeing where we can get to on that,” he added.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-18--Republicans Attempt To Lay Groundwork To Get GA Ballots Tossed With New Lawsuit

A group of Republicans including the Georgia state party , the National Republican Senatorial Committee and Sens .
Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) and David Perdue ( R-GA ) reacted to a legal defeat Thursday by quickly lodging another lawsuit in federal court attacking a different part of the state ’ s election system .
The new lawsuit , filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia , seeks to silo ballots cast by voters who registered after the November election from the rest , an attempt to lay the logistical groundwork for tossing those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used by Republicans during the general election , though none of their ultimate challenges to those ballots was compelling enough for judges to invalidate them .
The Republicans argue that many of the voters who registered in Georgia since the November election — they put that number at 32,000 , though they estimate that there are “ likely thousands more ” — are “ new to the state.
” They say that some of them voted in other states ’ senatorial contests in the general election .
That , they argue , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s prohibition of “ double voting.
” Still , they only found 425 voters who they allege fit that criterion ( though they say there are probably “ hundreds more ” ) — likely not enough to swing the election , even if a judge does agree with their argument .
The lawsuit calls for all incoming ballots to be segregated accordingly , and for all new registrants to be “ investigated ” to make sure they did not vote in a different Senate race in another state for the general election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newest attack on the voting process in Georgia , after two of their challenges were slapped down by federal judges on Thursday .
The same groups — the state party , Loeffler and Perdue , the NRSC — focused their first attempt , filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia , on making the signature matching process for absentee ballots more restrictive .
The topic has become a point of fixation for President Donald Trump and the Republican dominos who resultantly care about what he does .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ suit Thursday afternoon , saying that the plaintiffs lacked standing due to an argument “ based in theories of potential future injuries.
” The other GOP loss happened in the Southern District of Georgia , where Judge Randal Hall dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Twelfth Congressional District Republican Committee to prohibit the use of drop boxes and keep election workers from processing absentee ballots until Election Day .
Hall also found that the plaintiffs lacked standing , but delved into their legal argument as well , concluding that their claims of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud were “ highly speculative.
” He balked at the idea of changing election rules for a contest in which early voting has already begun .
“ We are not on the eve of an election , ” Hall said .
“ We are , as it relates to this particular election , closing in on halftime.
” There is another Republican challenge lodged by the RNC and state Republican party focused on restricting drop box use and changing poll watcher rules that is still pending in Fulton County Superior Court .

A group of Republicans including the Georgia state party, the National Republican Senatorial Committee and Sens. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) and David Perdue (R-GA) reacted to a legal defeat Thursday by quickly lodging another lawsuit in federal court attacking a different part of the state’s election system.
The new lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, seeks to silo ballots cast by voters who registered after the November election from the rest, an attempt to lay the logistical groundwork for tossing those ballots later. A similar tactic was used by Republicans during the general election, though none of their ultimate challenges to those ballots was compelling enough for judges to invalidate them.
The Republicans argue that many of the voters who registered in Georgia since the November election — they put that number at 32,000, though they estimate that there are “likely thousands more” — are “new to the state.” They say that some of them voted in other states’ senatorial contests in the general election. That, they argue, is a violation of the Voting Rights Act’s prohibition of “double voting.”
Still, they only found 425 voters who they allege fit that criterion (though they say there are probably “hundreds more”) — likely not enough to swing the election, even if a judge does agree with their argument.
The lawsuit calls for all incoming ballots to be segregated accordingly, and for all new registrants to be “investigated” to make sure they did not vote in a different Senate race in another state for the general election.
The suit is just Republicans’ newest attack on the voting process in Georgia, after two of their challenges were slapped down by federal judges on Thursday.
The same groups — the state party, Loeffler and Perdue, the NRSC — focused their first attempt, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, on making the signature matching process for absentee ballots more restrictive. The topic has become a point of fixation for President Donald Trump and the Republican dominos who resultantly care about what he does.
U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross dismissed that suit Thursday afternoon, saying that the plaintiffs lacked standing due to an argument “based in theories of potential future injuries.”
The other GOP loss happened in the Southern District of Georgia, where Judge Randal Hall dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Twelfth Congressional District Republican Committee to prohibit the use of drop boxes and keep election workers from processing absentee ballots until Election Day.
Hall also found that the plaintiffs lacked standing, but delved into their legal argument as well, concluding that their claims of the rules opening up the process to voter fraud were “highly speculative.”
He balked at the idea of changing election rules for a contest in which early voting has already begun.
“We are not on the eve of an election,” Hall said. “We are, as it relates to this particular election, closing in on halftime.”
There is another Republican challenge lodged by the RNC and state Republican party focused on restricting drop box use and changing poll watcher rules that is still pending in Fulton County Superior Court.
Read the newest lawsuit here:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-19--Congress Passes Two-Day Stopgap Funding Bill To Avert Shutdown

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Congress passed a two-day stopgap spending bill Friday night , averting a partial government shutdown and buying yet more time for frustratingly slow endgame negotiations on an almost $ 1 trillion COVID-19 economic relief package .
The virus aid talks remained on track , both sides said , but closing out final disagreements was proving difficult .
Weekend sessions were on tap , and House leaders hoped for a vote on Sunday on the massive package , which wraps much of Capitol Hill ’ s unfinished 2020 business into a take-it-or-leave-it behemoth that promises to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The House passed the temporary funding bill by a 320-60 vote .
The Senate approved it by voice vote almost immediately afterward , and President Donald Trump signed it late Friday .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , said both sides remain intent on closing the deal , even as Democrats launched a concerted campaign to block an effort by Republicans to rein in emergency Federal Reserve lending powers .
The Democrats said the GOP proposal would deprive President-elect Joe Biden of crucial tools to manage the economy .
Negotiations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t likely before Saturday , lawmakers and aides said .
House lawmakers were told they wouldn ’ t have to report to work on Saturday but that a Sunday session was likely .
The Senate will be voting on nominations .
The $ 900 billion package comes as the pandemic is delivering its most fearsome surge yet , killing more than 3,000 victims per day and straining the nation ’ s health care system .
While vaccines are on the way , most people won ’ t get them for months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The emerging agreement would deliver more than $ 300 billion in aid to businesses and provide the jobless a $ 300-per-week bonus federal unemployment benefit and renewal of state benefits that would otherwise expire right after Christmas .
It also includes $ 600 direct payments to individuals ; vaccine distribution funds and money for renters , schools , the Postal Service and people needing food aid .
Democrats on Friday came out swinging at a key obstacle : a provision by conservative Sen. Pat Toomey , R-Pa. , that would close down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Federal Reserve lending powers established under a relief bill in March .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is shutting down the programs at the end of December , but Toomey ’ s language goes further , by barring the Fed from restarting the lending next year , and Democrats say the provision would tie Biden ’ s hands and put the economy at risk .
“ As we navigate through an unprecedented economic crisis , it is in the interests of the American people to maintain the Fed ’ s ability to respond quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adviser Brian Deese .
“ Undermining that authority could mean less lending to Main Street businesses , higher unemployment and greater economic pain across the nation.
” The Fed programs at issue provided loans to small and mid-sized businesses and bought state and local government bonds , making it easier for those governments to borrow , at a time when their finances are under pressure from the pandemic .
The Fed would need the support of the Treasury Department to restart the programs , which Biden ’ s Treasury secretary nominee , Janet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would likely provide .
Treasury could also provide funds to backstop those programs without congressional approval and could ease the lending requirements .
That could encourage more lending under the programs , which have seen only limited use so far .
Friday opened on an optimistic note after the talks appeared stalled for much of Thursday .
The pending bill is the first significant legislative response to the pandemic since the landmark CARES Act passed virtually unanimously in March , delivering $ 1.8 trillion in aid , more generous $ 600 per week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payments to individuals .
The COVID-19 package would be added to a $ 1.4 trillion governmentwide appropriations bill that would fund federal agencies through next September .
That measure is likely to provide a last $ 1.4 billion installment for Trump ’ s U.S.-Mexico border wall as a condition of winning his signature .
For Republicans , the most important COVID-19 aid provision was a long-sought second round of “ paycheck protection ” payments to especially hard-hit businesses and renewal of soon-to-expire state jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed .
Democrats have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments , a top priority , and they won a supplemental COVID-19 unemployment benefit that was only half the size of what the CARES Act delivered .
Democrats also won $ 25 billion to help struggling renters with their payments and $ 45 billion for airlines and transit systems , but some critics on the left said Democratic negotiators were getting outmaneuvered .
Indeed , McConnell has been in the catbird ’ s seat since Senate Republicans outperformed expectations in November while House Democrats barely held their majority .
Preelection Democratic demands for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly cut by more than half .
Still , Biden is pressing for an agreement , fearing a weakening economy will await him on Inauguration Day .
Biden is promising another bill next year , but if Democrats lose Georgia Senate runoff elections next month and fail to win the Senate majority , they may have little leverage .
Most economists , including Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell , strongly support additional economic stimulus as necessary to keep businesses and households afloat through what is widely anticipated to be a tough winter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the first three months of 2021 without more help .
Standard & Poor ’ s said in a report Tuesday that the economy would be 1.5 percentage points smaller in 2021 without more aid .

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress passed a two-day stopgap spending bill Friday night, averting a partial government shutdown and buying yet more time for frustratingly slow endgame negotiations on an almost $1 trillion COVID-19 economic relief package.
The virus aid talks remained on track, both sides said, but closing out final disagreements was proving difficult. Weekend sessions were on tap, and House leaders hoped for a vote on Sunday on the massive package, which wraps much of Capitol Hill’s unfinished 2020 business into a take-it-or-leave-it behemoth that promises to be a foot thick — or more.
The House passed the temporary funding bill by a 320-60 vote. The Senate approved it by voice vote almost immediately afterward, and President Donald Trump signed it late Friday.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said both sides remain intent on closing the deal, even as Democrats launched a concerted campaign to block an effort by Republicans to rein in emergency Federal Reserve lending powers. The Democrats said the GOP proposal would deprive President-elect Joe Biden of crucial tools to manage the economy.
Negotiations continued into Friday night but an agreement wasn’t likely before Saturday, lawmakers and aides said. House lawmakers were told they wouldn’t have to report to work on Saturday but that a Sunday session was likely. The Senate will be voting on nominations.
The $900 billion package comes as the pandemic is delivering its most fearsome surge yet, killing more than 3,000 victims per day and straining the nation’s health care system. While vaccines are on the way, most people won’t get them for months. Jobless claims are on the rise.
The emerging agreement would deliver more than $300 billion in aid to businesses and provide the jobless a $300-per-week bonus federal unemployment benefit and renewal of state benefits that would otherwise expire right after Christmas. It also includes $600 direct payments to individuals; vaccine distribution funds and money for renters, schools, the Postal Service and people needing food aid.
Democrats on Friday came out swinging at a key obstacle: a provision by conservative Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., that would close down more than $400 billion in potential Federal Reserve lending powers established under a relief bill in March. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is shutting down the programs at the end of December, but Toomey’s language goes further, by barring the Fed from restarting the lending next year, and Democrats say the provision would tie Biden’s hands and put the economy at risk.
“As we navigate through an unprecedented economic crisis, it is in the interests of the American people to maintain the Fed’s ability to respond quickly and forcefully,” said Biden economic adviser Brian Deese. “Undermining that authority could mean less lending to Main Street businesses, higher unemployment and greater economic pain across the nation.”
The Fed programs at issue provided loans to small and mid-sized businesses and bought state and local government bonds, making it easier for those governments to borrow, at a time when their finances are under pressure from the pandemic.
The Fed would need the support of the Treasury Department to restart the programs, which Biden’s Treasury secretary nominee, Janet Yellen, a former Fed chair, would likely provide. Treasury could also provide funds to backstop those programs without congressional approval and could ease the lending requirements. That could encourage more lending under the programs, which have seen only limited use so far.
Friday opened on an optimistic note after the talks appeared stalled for much of Thursday.
The pending bill is the first significant legislative response to the pandemic since the landmark CARES Act passed virtually unanimously in March, delivering $1.8 trillion in aid, more generous $600 per week bonus jobless benefits and $1,200 direct payments to individuals.
The COVID-19 package would be added to a $1.4 trillion governmentwide appropriations bill that would fund federal agencies through next September. That measure is likely to provide a last $1.4 billion installment for Trump’s U.S.-Mexico border wall as a condition of winning his signature.
For Republicans, the most important COVID-19 aid provision was a long-sought second round of “paycheck protection” payments to especially hard-hit businesses and renewal of soon-to-expire state jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed.
Democrats have been denied fiscal relief for states and local governments, a top priority, and they won a supplemental COVID-19 unemployment benefit that was only half the size of what the CARES Act delivered. Democrats also won $25 billion to help struggling renters with their payments and $45 billion for airlines and transit systems, but some critics on the left said Democratic negotiators were getting outmaneuvered.
Indeed, McConnell has been in the catbird’s seat since Senate Republicans outperformed expectations in November while House Democrats barely held their majority. Preelection Democratic demands for a bill exceeding $2 trillion were quickly cut by more than half. Still, Biden is pressing for an agreement, fearing a weakening economy will await him on Inauguration Day.
Biden is promising another bill next year, but if Democrats lose Georgia Senate runoff elections next month and fail to win the Senate majority, they may have little leverage.
Most economists, including Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell, strongly support additional economic stimulus as necessary to keep businesses and households afloat through what is widely anticipated to be a tough winter. Many forecast the economy could shrink in the first three months of 2021 without more help. Standard & Poor’s said in a report Tuesday that the economy would be 1.5 percentage points smaller in 2021 without more aid.
__
AP Economics Writer Christopher Rugaber contributed.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-19--Moderna Vaccine Doses Arriving Monday After FDA Approves 2nd COVID Shot

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The U.S. added a second COVID-19 vaccine to its arsenal Friday , boosting efforts to beat back an outbreak so dire that the nation is regularly recording more than 3,000 deaths a day .
Much-needed doses are set to arrive Monday after the Food and Drug Administration authorized an emergency rollout of the vaccine developed by Moderna Inc. and the National Institutes of Health .
The move marks the world ’ s first authorization for Moderna ’ s shots .
The vaccine is very similar to one from Pfizer Inc. and Germany ’ s BioNTech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of health care workers and nursing home residents as the biggest vaccination drive in U.S. history starts to ramp up .
The two work “ better than we almost dared to hope , ” NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins told The Associated Press .
“ Science is working here , science has done something amazing.
” Early results of large , still unfinished studies show both vaccines appear safe and strongly protective although Moderna ’ s is easier to handle since it doesn ’ t need to be stored at ultra-frozen temperatures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of hope amid despair as the virus continues to spread unabated even before holiday gatherings that are certain to further fuel the outbreak .
The scourge has claimed more than 312,000 U.S. lives and killed 1.7 million people worldwide .
New cases in the U.S. are running at over 216,000 per day on average .
Deaths per day have hit all-time highs , eclipsing 3,600 on Wednesday .
California has emerged as one of the most lethal hot spots , with hospitals running out of intensive care beds and ambulances lining up outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calamity around New York City last spring .
California on Friday reported over 41,000 new cases and 300 more deaths .
When New York ’ s hospitals were in crisis , health care workers from across the country came to help out .
This time , “ there ’ s no cavalry coming ” because so many hospitals are swamped , said Dr. Marc Futernick , an emergency room physician in Los Angeles .
The nation is scrambling to expand vaccinations as rapidly as Moderna and Pfizer can churn out doses .
Moderna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older , Pfizer ’ s starts at age 16 .
It ’ s just the beginning of “ what we hope will be a big push to get this terrible virus behind us , although it will take many more months to get to all Americans , ” Collins said .
Moderna expects to have between 100 million and 125 million doses available globally in the first three months of 2021 , with 85-100 million of those available in the U.S .
Even with additional candidates in the pipeline , there won ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until spring , and shots will be rationed in the meantime .
And while health workers are enthusiastically embracing vaccination , authorities worry the public may need more reassurance to ensure more people get in line when it ’ s their turn .
“ Frankly if we don ’ t succeed in getting 80 % or so of Americans immunized against COVID-19 by the middle of this 2021 year , we have the risk that this epidemic could go on and on and on , ” Collins said .
He is especially concerned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ value reaches communities of color , which have been hard-hit by COVID-19 yet also are wary after years of health care disparities and research abuses .
To try to help instill confidence , Vice President Mike Pence received the Pfizer-BioNTech shot on live TV Friday , along with Surgeon General Jerome Adams .
FDA ’ s decision could help pave the way for other countries that are considering the Moderna vaccine , the first-ever regulatory clearance for the small Cambridge , Massachusetts , company .
European regulators could authorize its use as soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a few other countries already have cleared the Pfizer-BioNTech shot , with a European Union decision due Monday .
“ What we want to always remember is one size does not fit all .
We want to have options , ” said Dr. Paul Duprex of the University of Pittsburgh .
Moderna has about 5.9 million doses ready for shipment set to begin over the weekend , according to Operation Warp Speed , the government ’ s vaccine development program .
Injections of health workers and nursing home residents continue next week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups are allowed to get in line .
Both Moderna ’ s and Pfizer-BioNTech ’ s shots are so-called mRNA vaccines , made with a groundbreaking new technology .
They don ’ t contain any coronavirus – meaning they can not cause infection .
Instead , they use a piece of genetic code that trains the immune system to recognize the spike protein on the surface of the virus , ready to attack if the real thing comes along .
Their development less than a year after the coronavirus first emerged set a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shouldn ’ t worry people .
The speed was due to billions in company and government investments paired with years of earlier scientific research , not any cut corners .
“ The rigor of the analysis of these vaccines is unprecedented , ” Collins said .
“ We ’ re not done with this but hope is on the way , and the hope comes from this scientific brain trust that has pulled out all the stops.
” Experts are hoping the two vaccines together will “ break the back of the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precautions , said Dr. Arnold Monto of the University of Michigan , who chaired an advisory committee that publicly debated the shots ’ evidence ahead of FDA ’ s decisions .
–Both the new Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech shot require two doses several weeks apart .
The second dose must be from the same company as the first .
–In a study of 30,000 volunteers , the Moderna vaccine was more than 94 % effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in people 18 and older .
It also strongly protected older adults , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t throw away their masks as it ’ s not yet clear either vaccine prevents silent , symptomless virus spread .
But there was a hint that Moderna ’ s shot might provide some protection against asymptomatic infection .
–The Moderna study uncovered no major safety problems .
Like with the Pfizer-BioNTech shot , expect sore arms , fever , fatigue and muscle aches , which are signs the immune system is revving up .
–Both vaccines carry “ a remote chance ” of causing a severe allergic reaction .
Moderna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these , though a handful were reported in Britain as the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccinations got underway and the FDA is looking into five in the U.S. , including a severe reaction in Alaska .
The vaccines ’ ingredients aren ’ t identical .
Still , after any COVID-19 vaccination , people should stick around for 15 minutes – or 30 minutes if they have a history of severe allergies – so if they do have a reaction , it can be treated immediately .
–Both vaccines remain experimental , and the government is closely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up .
–Additional studies are needed to tell if the vaccine should be used by pregnant women and children .
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should discuss whether to get the vaccine with their doctor .
Associated Press reporter Amy Taxin contributed to this report from Orange County , California .
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. added a second COVID-19 vaccine to its arsenal Friday, boosting efforts to beat back an outbreak so dire that the nation is regularly recording more than 3,000 deaths a day.
Much-needed doses are set to arrive Monday after the Food and Drug Administration authorized an emergency rollout of the vaccine developed by Moderna Inc. and the National Institutes of Health.
The move marks the world’s first authorization for Moderna’s shots. The vaccine is very similar to one from Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech that’s now being dispensed to millions of health care workers and nursing home residents as the biggest vaccination drive in U.S. history starts to ramp up.
The two work “better than we almost dared to hope,” NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins told The Associated Press. “Science is working here, science has done something amazing.”
Early results of large, still unfinished studies show both vaccines appear safe and strongly protective although Moderna’s is easier to handle since it doesn’t need to be stored at ultra-frozen temperatures.
A second vaccine represents a ray of hope amid despair as the virus continues to spread unabated even before holiday gatherings that are certain to further fuel the outbreak.
The scourge has claimed more than 312,000 U.S. lives and killed 1.7 million people worldwide. New cases in the U.S. are running at over 216,000 per day on average. Deaths per day have hit all-time highs, eclipsing 3,600 on Wednesday.
California has emerged as one of the most lethal hot spots, with hospitals running out of intensive care beds and ambulances lining up outside emergency rooms in scenes reminiscent of the calamity around New York City last spring. California on Friday reported over 41,000 new cases and 300 more deaths.
When New York’s hospitals were in crisis, health care workers from across the country came to help out. This time, “there’s no cavalry coming” because so many hospitals are swamped, said Dr. Marc Futernick, an emergency room physician in Los Angeles.
The nation is scrambling to expand vaccinations as rapidly as Moderna and Pfizer can churn out doses. Moderna’s is for people 18 and older, Pfizer’s starts at age 16.
It’s just the beginning of “what we hope will be a big push to get this terrible virus behind us, although it will take many more months to get to all Americans,” Collins said.
Moderna expects to have between 100 million and 125 million doses available globally in the first three months of 2021, with 85-100 million of those available in the U.S.
Even with additional candidates in the pipeline, there won’t be enough for the general population until spring, and shots will be rationed in the meantime. And while health workers are enthusiastically embracing vaccination, authorities worry the public may need more reassurance to ensure more people get in line when it’s their turn.
“Frankly if we don’t succeed in getting 80% or so of Americans immunized against COVID-19 by the middle of this 2021 year, we have the risk that this epidemic could go on and on and on,” Collins said.
He is especially concerned that accurate information about the shots’ value reaches communities of color, which have been hard-hit by COVID-19 yet also are wary after years of health care disparities and research abuses.
To try to help instill confidence, Vice President Mike Pence received the Pfizer-BioNTech shot on live TV Friday, along with Surgeon General Jerome Adams.
FDA’s decision could help pave the way for other countries that are considering the Moderna vaccine, the first-ever regulatory clearance for the small Cambridge, Massachusetts, company. European regulators could authorize its use as soon as Jan. 6. Britain, Canada and a few other countries already have cleared the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, with a European Union decision due Monday.
“What we want to always remember is one size does not fit all. We want to have options,” said Dr. Paul Duprex of the University of Pittsburgh.
Moderna has about 5.9 million doses ready for shipment set to begin over the weekend, according to Operation Warp Speed, the government’s vaccine development program. Injections of health workers and nursing home residents continue next week, before other essential workers and vulnerable groups are allowed to get in line.
Both Moderna’s and Pfizer-BioNTech’s shots are so-called mRNA vaccines, made with a groundbreaking new technology. They don’t contain any coronavirus – meaning they cannot cause infection. Instead, they use a piece of genetic code that trains the immune system to recognize the spike protein on the surface of the virus, ready to attack if the real thing comes along.
Their development less than a year after the coronavirus first emerged set a speed record, but Collins stressed that shouldn’t worry people. The speed was due to billions in company and government investments paired with years of earlier scientific research, not any cut corners.
“The rigor of the analysis of these vaccines is unprecedented,” Collins said. “We’re not done with this but hope is on the way, and the hope comes from this scientific brain trust that has pulled out all the stops.”
Experts are hoping the two vaccines together will “break the back of the pandemic” when combined with masks and other precautions, said Dr. Arnold Monto of the University of Michigan, who chaired an advisory committee that publicly debated the shots’ evidence ahead of FDA’s decisions.
The FDA’s main messages:
–Both the new Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech shot require two doses several weeks apart. The second dose must be from the same company as the first.
–In a study of 30,000 volunteers, the Moderna vaccine was more than 94% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in people 18 and older. It also strongly protected older adults, who are most vulnerable.
–The inoculated can’t throw away their masks as it’s not yet clear either vaccine prevents silent, symptomless virus spread. But there was a hint that Moderna’s shot might provide some protection against asymptomatic infection.
–The Moderna study uncovered no major safety problems. Like with the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, expect sore arms, fever, fatigue and muscle aches, which are signs the immune system is revving up.
–Both vaccines carry “a remote chance” of causing a severe allergic reaction. Moderna’s study turned up none of these, though a handful were reported in Britain as the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccinations got underway and the FDA is looking into five in the U.S., including a severe reaction in Alaska. The vaccines’ ingredients aren’t identical. Still, after any COVID-19 vaccination, people should stick around for 15 minutes – or 30 minutes if they have a history of severe allergies – so if they do have a reaction, it can be treated immediately.
–Both vaccines remain experimental, and the government is closely monitoring safety in case rare problems crop up.
–Additional studies are needed to tell if the vaccine should be used by pregnant women and children. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should discuss whether to get the vaccine with their doctor.
___
Associated Press reporter Amy Taxin contributed to this report from Orange County, California.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-20--GOP Effort To Kneecap Economic Recovery Under Biden Jams Up COVID Relief Deal

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — An arcane battle over emergency Federal Reserve powers foiled efforts on Saturday to lock down an agreement on an almost $ 1 trillion COVID-19 economic relief package .
Saturday ’ s deadlock was just the latest stumble in a partisan , months-long fight over pandemic relief and the lack of progress is backing lawmakers once again up against a government shutdown deadline Sunday night .
Lawmakers on both sides said a provision by Sen. Pat Toomey , R-Pa. , that would curb emergency Federal Reserve powers was the sticking point .
Republicans are insisting on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adamantly against it .
A compromise was proving elusive , but communications channels are open , as key lawmakers convened in scrums on the Senate floor and as Toomey and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , met to exchange ideas .
“ I think that we should be able to get a deal done , ” Toomey said afterward .
“ I think they agreed to go back and write down what they were saying , so everybody can read it and exchange paper , ” said Sen. John Cornyn , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopes for a House vote Sunday and quick Senate action on an agreement that ’ s virtually ready save for Toomey ’ s provision .
“ That has to be resolved .
And then everything will fall into place , ” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. “ It ’ s a very significant difference.
” A new deadline of midnight Sunday for a government shutdown served as a backstop for the tortuous negotiations , which were being conducted in secret largely among the top four leaders in Congress .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation , and land this plane , ” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell .
Toomey defended his controversial provision in a floor speech , saying the emergency powers were designed to stabilize capital markets at the height of the COVID panic this spring and are expiring at the end of the month anyway .
The language would block the Biden administration from restarting them .
Even Toomey said this week that his provision “ could be seen as redundant , ” but neither he nor his Democratic adversaries were backing down from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being shuttled back and forth .
At issue are Fed emergency programs , launched amid the pandemic this spring , that provided loans to small and mid-size businesses and bought state and local government bonds .
Those bond purchases have made it easier for those governments to borrow , at a time when their finances are under pressure from job losses and health costs stemming from the pandemic .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said last month that those programs , along with two that purchased corporate bonds , would close at the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objection by the Fed .
Under the Dodd-Frank financial reform law passed after the Great Recession , the Fed can only set up emergency programs with the support of the treasury secretary .
But in Mnuchin ’ s letter closing the programs , he said the Fed could request that future treasury secretaries renew them .
Fed Chair Jerome Powell echoed that view Wednesday at a news conference .
Yet Toomey ’ s language would bar the Fed from doing so .
That prompted a rare statement Saturday from former Federal Reserve Chairman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expansion of the Fed ’ s emergency lending during the Great Recession , which most economists credit with helping end the financial crisis .
It is “ vital that the Federal Reserve ’ s ability to respond promptly to damaging disruptions in credit markets not be circumscribed , ” Bernanke said .
“ The relief act should ensure , at least , that the Federal Reserve ’ s emergency lending authorities , as they stood before the passage of the CARES Act ( in March ) , remain fully intact and available to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress also say that Toomey is trying to limit the Fed ’ s ability to boost the economy , just as Biden takes office .
“ This is about existing authorities that the Fed has had for a very long time , to be able to use in an emergency , ” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass .
“ It ’ s about a lending authority for helping small businesses , state government , local government in the middle of a crisis.
” Toomey disputed that charge , saying his proposal “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Federal Reserve ’ s emergency lending authority.
” The massive package would wrap much of Capitol Hill ’ s unfinished 2020 business into a take-it-or-leave-it measure that promises to be a foot thick or more .
House lawmakers will probably have only a few hours to study it before voting as early as Sunday afternoon .
A Senate vote would follow , probably on Monday .
One more short-term funding bill probably would be needed to avoid the looming deadline .
An agreement in principle Saturday would be a precursor to more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lawmakers are eager to exit Washington and close out a tumultuous year .
The $ 900 billion package comes as the pandemic is delivering its most fearsome surge yet , killing more than 3,000 victims per day and straining the health care system .
While vaccines are on the way , most people won ’ t get them for months .
Jobless claims are on the rise .
The emerging agreement would deliver more than $ 300 billion in aid to businesses and provide the jobless a $ 300-per-week bonus federal unemployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would otherwise expire right after Christmas .
It includes $ 600 direct payments to individuals ; vaccine distribution funds and money for renters , schools , the Postal Service and people needing food aid .
It would be the first significant legislative response to the pandemic since the landmark CARES Act passed virtually unanimously in March , delivering $ 1.8 trillion in aid , more generous $ 600 per week bonus jobless benefits and $ 1,200 direct payments to individuals .
The new relief aid would be added to a $ 1.4 trillion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through next September .
That measure is likely to provide a last $ 1.4 billion installment for Trump ’ s U.S.-Mexico border wall as a condition of winning his signature .

WASHINGTON (AP) — An arcane battle over emergency Federal Reserve powers foiled efforts on Saturday to lock down an agreement on an almost $1 trillion COVID-19 economic relief package. Saturday’s deadlock was just the latest stumble in a partisan, months-long fight over pandemic relief and the lack of progress is backing lawmakers once again up against a government shutdown deadline Sunday night.
Lawmakers on both sides said a provision by Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., that would curb emergency Federal Reserve powers was the sticking point. Republicans are insisting on the Toomey plan, while Democrats are adamantly against it. A compromise was proving elusive, but communications channels are open, as key lawmakers convened in scrums on the Senate floor and as Toomey and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., met to exchange ideas.
“I think that we should be able to get a deal done,” Toomey said afterward.
“I think they agreed to go back and write down what they were saying, so everybody can read it and exchange paper,” said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.
The latest pratfall likely upends hopes for a House vote Sunday and quick Senate action on an agreement that’s virtually ready save for Toomey’s provision.
“That has to be resolved. And then everything will fall into place,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. “It’s a very significant difference.”
A new deadline of midnight Sunday for a government shutdown served as a backstop for the tortuous negotiations, which were being conducted in secret largely among the top four leaders in Congress.
“We need to conclude our talks, draft legislation, and land this plane,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Toomey defended his controversial provision in a floor speech, saying the emergency powers were designed to stabilize capital markets at the height of the COVID panic this spring and are expiring at the end of the month anyway. The language would block the Biden administration from restarting them.
Even Toomey said this week that his provision “could be seen as redundant,” but neither he nor his Democratic adversaries were backing down from the fight, though compromise language was being shuttled back and forth.
At issue are Fed emergency programs, launched amid the pandemic this spring, that provided loans to small and mid-size businesses and bought state and local government bonds. Those bond purchases have made it easier for those governments to borrow, at a time when their finances are under pressure from job losses and health costs stemming from the pandemic.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said last month that those programs, along with two that purchased corporate bonds, would close at the end of the year, prompting an initial objection by the Fed. Under the Dodd-Frank financial reform law passed after the Great Recession, the Fed can only set up emergency programs with the support of the treasury secretary.
But in Mnuchin’s letter closing the programs, he said the Fed could request that future treasury secretaries renew them. Fed Chair Jerome Powell echoed that view Wednesday at a news conference. Yet Toomey’s language would bar the Fed from doing so.
That prompted a rare statement Saturday from former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, who oversaw a dramatic expansion of the Fed’s emergency lending during the Great Recession, which most economists credit with helping end the financial crisis.
It is “vital that the Federal Reserve’s ability to respond promptly to damaging disruptions in credit markets not be circumscribed,” Bernanke said. “The relief act should ensure, at least, that the Federal Reserve’s emergency lending authorities, as they stood before the passage of the CARES Act (in March), remain fully intact and available to respond to future crises.”
Democrats in Congress also say that Toomey is trying to limit the Fed’s ability to boost the economy, just as Biden takes office.
“This is about existing authorities that the Fed has had for a very long time, to be able to use in an emergency,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. “It’s about a lending authority for helping small businesses, state government, local government in the middle of a crisis.”
Toomey disputed that charge, saying his proposal “is emphatically not a broad overhaul of the Federal Reserve’s emergency lending authority.”
The massive package would wrap much of Capitol Hill’s unfinished 2020 business into a take-it-or-leave-it measure that promises to be a foot thick or more. House lawmakers will probably have only a few hours to study it before voting as early as Sunday afternoon. A Senate vote would follow, probably on Monday. One more short-term funding bill probably would be needed to avoid the looming deadline.
An agreement in principle Saturday would be a precursor to more hours of translating compromises into detailed legislation. Lawmakers are eager to exit Washington and close out a tumultuous year.
The $900 billion package comes as the pandemic is delivering its most fearsome surge yet, killing more than 3,000 victims per day and straining the health care system. While vaccines are on the way, most people won’t get them for months. Jobless claims are on the rise.
The emerging agreement would deliver more than $300 billion in aid to businesses and provide the jobless a $300-per-week bonus federal unemployment benefit and renewal of state benefits that would otherwise expire right after Christmas. It includes $600 direct payments to individuals; vaccine distribution funds and money for renters, schools, the Postal Service and people needing food aid.
It would be the first significant legislative response to the pandemic since the landmark CARES Act passed virtually unanimously in March, delivering $1.8 trillion in aid, more generous $600 per week bonus jobless benefits and $1,200 direct payments to individuals.
The new relief aid would be added to a $1.4 trillion governmentwide appropriations bill that would fund agencies through next September. That measure is likely to provide a last $1.4 billion installment for Trump’s U.S.-Mexico border wall as a condition of winning his signature.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-19--Trump Once Again Gives Russia A Pass After Massive Cyberattack

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Contradicting his secretary of state and other top officials , President Donald Trump on Saturday suggested without evidence that China — not Russia — may be behind the grave cyberattack against the United States and tried to minimized its impact .
In his first comments on the breach , Trump scoffed at the focus on the Kremlin and downplayed the intrusions , which the nation ’ s cybersecurity agency has warned posed a “ grave ” risk to government and private networks .
“ The Cyber Hack is far greater in the Fake News Media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fully briefed and everything is well under control , ” Trump tweeted .
He also claimed the media are “ petrified ” of “ discussing the possibility that it may be China ( it may ! )
.
” There is no evidence to suggest that is the case .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said late Friday that Russia was “ pretty clearly ” behind the cyberattack against the United States .
Officials at the White House had been prepared to put out a statement Friday afternoon that accused Russia of being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hack , but were told at the last minute to stand down , according to one U.S. official familiar with the conversations who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations .
It is not clear whether Pompeo got that message before his interview , but officials are now scrambling to figure out how to square the disparate accounts .
Pompeo said the government was still “ unpacking ” the cyberattack and some of it would likely remain classified .
“ But suffice it to say there was a significant effort to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essentially embed code inside of U.S. government systems and it now appears systems of private companies and companies and governments across the world as well .
“ This was a very significant effort and I think it ’ s the case that now we can say pretty clearly that it was the Russians that engaged in this activity , ” he said in the interview with radio talk show host Mark Levin .
Throughout his presidency , Trump has refused to blame Russia for well-documented hostilities , including its interference in the 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He blamed his predecessor , Barack Obama , for Russia ’ s annexation of Crimea , has endorsed allowing Russia to return to the G-7 group of nations and has never taken the country to task for allegedly putting bounties on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan .
Though Pompeo was the first Trump administration official to publicly blame Russia for the attacks , cybersecurity experts and other U.S. officials have been clear over the past week that the operation appears to be the work of Russia .
There has been no credible suggestion that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is responsible .
Democrats in Congress who have received classified briefings have also affirmed publicly that Russia , which in 2014 hacked the State Department and interfered through hacking in the 2016 presidential election , was behind it .
It ’ s not clear exactly what the hackers were seeking , but experts say it could include nuclear secrets , blueprints for advanced weaponry , COVID-19 vaccine-related research and information for dossiers on government and industry leaders .
Russia has said it had “ nothing to do ” with the hacking .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has said it compromised federal agencies as well as “ critical infrastructure.
” Homeland Security , the agency ’ s parent department , defines such infrastructure as any “ vital ” assets to the U.S. or its economy , a broad category that could include power plants and financial institutions .
One U.S. official , speaking Thursday on condition of anonymity to discuss a matter that is under investigation , described the hack as severe and extremely damaging .
“ This is looking like it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history of America , ” the official said .
“ They got into everything.
” Trump had been silent on the attacks before Saturday .
Deputy White House press secretary Brian Morgenstern on Friday declined to discuss the matter , but told reporters that national security adviser Robert O ’ Brien had sometimes been leading multiple daily meetings with the FBI , the Department of Homeland Security and the intelligence agencies , looking for ways to mitigate the hack .
“ Rest assured we have the best and brightest working hard on it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
The Democratic leaders of four House committees given classified briefings by the administration on the hack issued a statement complaining that they “ were left with more questions than answers.
” “ Administration officials were unwilling to share the full scope of the breach and identities of the victims , ” they said .
Pompeo , in the interview with Levin , said Russia was on the list of “ folks that want to undermine our way of life , our republic , our basic democratic principles .
… You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respect to their efforts in the cyberspace .
We ’ ve seen this for an awfully long time , using asymmetric capabilities to try and put themselves in a place where they can impose costs on the United States.
” What makes this hacking campaign so extraordinary is its scale : 18,000 organizations were infected from March to June by malicious code that piggybacked on popular network-management software from an Austin , Texas , company called SolarWinds .
It ’ s going to take months to kick elite hackers out of the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through since as far back as March .
Experts say there simply are not enough skilled threat-hunting teams to duly identify all the government and private-sector systems that may have been hacked .
FireEye , the cybersecurity company that discovered the intrusion into U.S. agencies and was among the victims , has already tallied dozens of casualties .
It ’ s racing to identify more .
Many federal workers — and others in the private sector — must presume that unclassified networks are teeming with spies .
Agencies will be more inclined to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WhatsApp and other encrypted smartphone apps .
If the hackers are indeed from Russia ’ s SVR foreign intelligence agency , as experts believe , their resistance may be tenacious .
The only way to be sure a network is clean is “ to burn it down to the ground and rebuild it , ” said Bruce Schneier , a prominent security expert and Harvard fellow .
Florida became the first state to acknowledge falling victim to a SolarWinds hack .
Officials told The Associated Press that hackers apparently infiltrated the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
SolarWinds ’ customers include most Fortune 500 companies , and its U.S. government clients are rich with generals and spymasters .
Associated Press writers Matthew Lee and Eric Tucker in Washington and Bobby Caina Calvan in Tallahassee , Florida , contributed to this report .

WASHINGTON (AP) — Contradicting his secretary of state and other top officials, President Donald Trump on Saturday suggested without evidence that China — not Russia — may be behind the grave cyberattack against the United States and tried to minimized its impact.
In his first comments on the breach, Trump scoffed at the focus on the Kremlin and downplayed the intrusions, which the nation’s cybersecurity agency has warned posed a “grave” risk to government and private networks.
“The Cyber Hack is far greater in the Fake News Media than in actuality. I have been fully briefed and everything is well under control,” Trump tweeted. He also claimed the media are “petrified” of “discussing the possibility that it may be China (it may!).”
There is no evidence to suggest that is the case. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said late Friday that Russia was “pretty clearly” behind the cyberattack against the United States.
Officials at the White House had been prepared to put out a statement Friday afternoon that accused Russia of being “the main actor” in the hack, but were told at the last minute to stand down, according to one U.S. official familiar with the conversations who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations.
It is not clear whether Pompeo got that message before his interview, but officials are now scrambling to figure out how to square the disparate accounts.
Pompeo said the government was still “unpacking” the cyberattack and some of it would likely remain classified.
“But suffice it to say there was a significant effort to use a piece of third-party software to essentially embed code inside of U.S. government systems and it now appears systems of private companies and companies and governments across the world as well.
“This was a very significant effort and I think it’s the case that now we can say pretty clearly that it was the Russians that engaged in this activity,” he said in the interview with radio talk show host Mark Levin.
Throughout his presidency, Trump has refused to blame Russia for well-documented hostilities, including its interference in the 2016 election to help him get elected. He blamed his predecessor, Barack Obama, for Russia’s annexation of Crimea, has endorsed allowing Russia to return to the G-7 group of nations and has never taken the country to task for allegedly putting bounties on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.
Though Pompeo was the first Trump administration official to publicly blame Russia for the attacks, cybersecurity experts and other U.S. officials have been clear over the past week that the operation appears to be the work of Russia. There has been no credible suggestion that any other country — including China — is responsible.
Democrats in Congress who have received classified briefings have also affirmed publicly that Russia, which in 2014 hacked the State Department and interfered through hacking in the 2016 presidential election, was behind it.
It’s not clear exactly what the hackers were seeking, but experts say it could include nuclear secrets, blueprints for advanced weaponry, COVID-19 vaccine-related research and information for dossiers on government and industry leaders.
Russia has said it had “nothing to do” with the hacking.
While Trump downplayed the impact of the hacks, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has said it compromised federal agencies as well as “critical infrastructure.” Homeland Security, the agency’s parent department, defines such infrastructure as any “vital” assets to the U.S. or its economy, a broad category that could include power plants and financial institutions.
One U.S. official, speaking Thursday on condition of anonymity to discuss a matter that is under investigation, described the hack as severe and extremely damaging.
“This is looking like it’s the worst hacking case in the history of America,” the official said. “They got into everything.”
Trump had been silent on the attacks before Saturday.
Deputy White House press secretary Brian Morgenstern on Friday declined to discuss the matter, but told reporters that national security adviser Robert O’Brien had sometimes been leading multiple daily meetings with the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the intelligence agencies, looking for ways to mitigate the hack.
“Rest assured we have the best and brightest working hard on it each and every single day,” he said.
The Democratic leaders of four House committees given classified briefings by the administration on the hack issued a statement complaining that they “were left with more questions than answers.”
“Administration officials were unwilling to share the full scope of the breach and identities of the victims,” they said.
Pompeo, in the interview with Levin, said Russia was on the list of “folks that want to undermine our way of life, our republic, our basic democratic principles. … You see the news of the day with respect to their efforts in the cyberspace. We’ve seen this for an awfully long time, using asymmetric capabilities to try and put themselves in a place where they can impose costs on the United States.”
What makes this hacking campaign so extraordinary is its scale: 18,000 organizations were infected from March to June by malicious code that piggybacked on popular network-management software from an Austin, Texas, company called SolarWinds.
It’s going to take months to kick elite hackers out of the U.S. government networks they have been quietly rifling through since as far back as March.
Experts say there simply are not enough skilled threat-hunting teams to duly identify all the government and private-sector systems that may have been hacked. FireEye, the cybersecurity company that discovered the intrusion into U.S. agencies and was among the victims, has already tallied dozens of casualties. It’s racing to identify more.
Many federal workers — and others in the private sector — must presume that unclassified networks are teeming with spies. Agencies will be more inclined to conduct sensitive government business on Signal, WhatsApp and other encrypted smartphone apps.
If the hackers are indeed from Russia’s SVR foreign intelligence agency, as experts believe, their resistance may be tenacious.
The only way to be sure a network is clean is “to burn it down to the ground and rebuild it,” said Bruce Schneier, a prominent security expert and Harvard fellow.
Florida became the first state to acknowledge falling victim to a SolarWinds hack. Officials told The Associated Press that hackers apparently infiltrated the state’s health care administration agency and others.
SolarWinds’ customers include most Fortune 500 companies, and its U.S. government clients are rich with generals and spymasters.
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Associated Press writers Matthew Lee and Eric Tucker in Washington and Bobby Caina Calvan in Tallahassee, Florida, contributed to this report.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-19--OWS General Sorry For ‘Miscommunication’ Around Vaccine Dose Shortfall

WASHINGTON — An Army general in charge of COVID-19 vaccines apologized Saturday for “ miscommunication ” with states on the @ @ @ @ @ .
Gen. Gustave Perna ’ s remarks came a day after a second vaccine was @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus .
Governors in more than a dozen states says the federal government has @ @ @ @ @ s shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be less than originally projected .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ for the miscommunication , ” he said .
“ I know that ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ But I am responsible .
… This is a herculean effort and we are not @ @ @ @ @ government now is on track to get approximately 20 million doses to states by the @ @ @ @ @ a combination of the newly approved Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine .
He says @ @ @ @ @ been delivered so far .
The coronavirus has killed more than 313,000 people in the @ @ @ @ @ toll in the world .

WASHINGTON — An Army general in charge of COVID-19 vaccines apologized Saturday for “miscommunication” with states on the number of early doses delivered.
Gen. Gustave Perna’s remarks came a day after a second vaccine was added in the fight against the coronavirus. Governors in more than a dozen states says the federal government has told them next week’s shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be less than originally projected.
Army General Gustave Perna, the chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed, takes full responsibility for vaccine miscommunication https://t.co/vIAcxMBIEZ pic.twitter.com/YQd46N2elH — CBS News (@CBSNews) December 19, 2020
“I want to take personal responsibility for the miscommunication,” he said. “I know that’s not done much these days. But I am responsible. … This is a herculean effort and we are not perfect.”
Perna says the government now is on track to get approximately 20 million doses to states by the first week of January, a combination of the newly approved Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. He says 2.9 million Pfizer-BioNTech doses have been delivered so far.
The coronavirus has killed more than 313,000 people in the U.S., the highest death toll in the world.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-20--Trump Floats Lawyer His Campaign Fired As Special Counsel For Bogus Voter Fraud Probe

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — President Donald Trump floated naming lawyer Sidney Powell , who was booted from his campaign ’ s legal team after pushing unfounded conspiracy theories , as a special counsel investigating allegations of voter fraud as he grasps for straws to stay in power .
During a Friday meeting at the White House , Trump went as far as discussing getting Powell security clearance , according to two people familiar with the meeting , who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private conversation .
That Trump is even entertaining the idea of installing Powell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been weighing as he tries to reverse the results of the Nov 3. election , which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden .
Trump has been entertaining conspiracy theories and outlandish schemes to try to remain in office , egged on by allies like former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani , the president ’ s personal attorney .
It is unclear whether Trump intends to try to move forward with the effort to install Powell .
Under federal law , the U.S. attorney general , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ special counsels .
And numerous Republicans , from outgoing Attorney General William Barr to governors and state election officials , have said over and over again that there is no evidence of the kind of mass voter fraud that Trump has been baselessly alleging in the weeks since he lost .
The Friday meeting was first reported by The New York Times .
In addition to losing the popular vote by more than 7 million votes , Trump lost the Electoral College decisively to Biden , 306 electoral votes to 232 .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now filed roughly 50 lawsuits alleging widespread voting fraud and almost all have been dismissed or dropped .
Trump has lost before judges of both political parties , including some he appointed , and some of the strongest rebukes have come from conservative Republicans .
The Supreme Court has also refused to take up two cases — decisions that Trump has scorned .
With no further tenable legal recourse , Trump has been fuming and peppering allies for options as he refuses to accept his loss .
That includes Giuliani , who during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting machines in his hunt for evidence of fraud .
The Department of Homeland Security made clear , however , that it had no authority to do so .
It is also unclear what that would accomplish .
Barr told The Associated Press in an interview earlier this month that the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security have looked into claims that voting machines “ were programmed essentially to skew the election results … and so far , we haven ’ t seen anything to substantiate that.
” Paper ballots are also retained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to verify results , including in Georgia , which performed two audits of the vote tally using paper-ballot backups .
Flynn , whom Trump recently pardoned for lying to the FBI , went even further , suggesting Trump could impose martial law and use the military to re-run the election .
Trump ’ s chief of staff , Mark Meadows , and White House counsel Pat Cipollone , voiced their objections , the people familiar with the meeting said .
Powell was initially part of the president ’ s campaign legal team , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference with Giuliani in which she made a series of outlandish claims of election fraud , including an assertion that election software was created in Venezuela “ at the direction of Hugo Chavez ” — the Venezuelan president who died in 2013 .
In interviews and appearances , Powell continued to make misleading statements about the voting process , unfurled unsupported and complex conspiracy theories involving communist regimes and vowed to “ blow up ” Georgia with a “ biblical ” court filing .
Trump ’ s team soon announced it had cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a member of the Trump Legal Team .
She is also not a lawyer for the President in his personal capacity , ” Giuliani and another Trump lawyer , Jenna Ellis , said in a statement .
Dominion Voting Systems , a particular target of Powell ’ s , has also demanded she retract the “ wild ” and “ knowingly baseless ” claims she has made about the voting machine company and threatened a defamation lawsuit .
Since parting ways with the campaign , Powell has continued to file litigation on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with conservative attorney L. Lin Wood in Georgia .
Powell and the White House did not respond to requests for comment Saturday .
Lemire reported from New York .
Associated Press writer Michael Balsamo contributed to this report .

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump floated naming lawyer Sidney Powell, who was booted from his campaign’s legal team after pushing unfounded conspiracy theories, as a special counsel investigating allegations of voter fraud as he grasps for straws to stay in power.
During a Friday meeting at the White House, Trump went as far as discussing getting Powell security clearance, according to two people familiar with the meeting, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private conversation.
That Trump is even entertaining the idea of installing Powell underscores the increasingly desperate steps he has been weighing as he tries to reverse the results of the Nov 3. election, which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump has been entertaining conspiracy theories and outlandish schemes to try to remain in office, egged on by allies like former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal attorney.
It is unclear whether Trump intends to try to move forward with the effort to install Powell. Under federal law, the U.S. attorney general, not the president, is responsible for appointing special counsels. And numerous Republicans, from outgoing Attorney General William Barr to governors and state election officials, have said over and over again that there is no evidence of the kind of mass voter fraud that Trump has been baselessly alleging in the weeks since he lost. The Friday meeting was first reported by The New York Times.
In addition to losing the popular vote by more than 7 million votes, Trump lost the Electoral College decisively to Biden, 306 electoral votes to 232.
Trump’s campaign and his allies have now filed roughly 50 lawsuits alleging widespread voting fraud and almost all have been dismissed or dropped. Trump has lost before judges of both political parties, including some he appointed, and some of the strongest rebukes have come from conservative Republicans. The Supreme Court has also refused to take up two cases — decisions that Trump has scorned.
With no further tenable legal recourse, Trump has been fuming and peppering allies for options as he refuses to accept his loss.
That includes Giuliani, who during the Friday meeting pushed Trump to seize voting machines in his hunt for evidence of fraud. The Department of Homeland Security made clear, however, that it had no authority to do so. It is also unclear what that would accomplish.
Barr told The Associated Press in an interview earlier this month that the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security have looked into claims that voting machines “were programmed essentially to skew the election results … and so far, we haven’t seen anything to substantiate that.” Paper ballots are also retained under federal law and have been used to verify results, including in Georgia, which performed two audits of the vote tally using paper-ballot backups.
Flynn, whom Trump recently pardoned for lying to the FBI, went even further, suggesting Trump could impose martial law and use the military to re-run the election. Trump’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and White House counsel Pat Cipollone, voiced their objections, the people familiar with the meeting said.
Powell was initially part of the president’s campaign legal team, but was booted after a bizarre news conference with Giuliani in which she made a series of outlandish claims of election fraud, including an assertion that election software was created in Venezuela “at the direction of Hugo Chavez” — the Venezuelan president who died in 2013.
In interviews and appearances, Powell continued to make misleading statements about the voting process, unfurled unsupported and complex conspiracy theories involving communist regimes and vowed to “blow up” Georgia with a “biblical” court filing.
Trump’s team soon announced it had cut ties with Powell. “She is not a member of the Trump Legal Team. She is also not a lawyer for the President in his personal capacity,” Giuliani and another Trump lawyer, Jenna Ellis, said in a statement.
Dominion Voting Systems, a particular target of Powell’s, has also demanded she retract the “wild” and “knowingly baseless” claims she has made about the voting machine company and threatened a defamation lawsuit.
Since parting ways with the campaign, Powell has continued to file litigation on Trump’s behalf, teaming up with conservative attorney L. Lin Wood in Georgia.
Powell and the White House did not respond to requests for comment Saturday.
___
Lemire reported from New York. Associated Press writer Michael Balsamo contributed to this report.