courthousenews--2020-12-28--Trump Signs Massive Measure Funding Government, Covid Relief

WEST PALM BEACH , Fla. ( AP ) — President Donald Trump signed a $ 900 billion pandemic relief package Sunday , ending days of drama over his refusal to accept the bipartisan deal that will deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and avert a federal government shutdown .
The massive bill includes $ 1.4 trillion to fund government agencies through September and contains other end-of-session priorities such as money for cash-starved transit systems and an increase in food stamp benefits .
Trump announced the signing in a statement Sunday night that spoke of his frustrations with the COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to most Americans instead of the $ 2,000 that his fellow Republicans rejected .
He also complained about what he considered unnecessary spending by the government at large .
But Trump ’ s eleventh-hour objections created turmoil because lawmakers had thought he was supportive of the bill , which had been negotiated for months with White House input .
“ I will sign the Omnibus and Covid package with a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed , ” Trump said in the statement .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ a redlined version ” with items to be removed under the rescission process , those are merely suggestions to Congress .
The bill , as signed , would not necessarily be changed .
Lawmakers now have breathing room to continue debating whether the relief checks should be as large as the president has demanded .
The Democratic-led House supports the larger checks and is set to vote on the issue Monday , but it ’ s expected to be ignored by the Republican-held Senate where spending faces opposition .
Republicans and Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sign the bill into law .
“ The compromise bill is not perfect , but it will do an enormous amount of good for struggling Kentuckians and Americans across the country who need help now , ” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell .
“ I thank the President for signing this relief into law.
” Democrats are promising more aid to come once President-elect Joe Biden takes office , but Republicans are signaling a wait-and-see approach .
In the face of growing economic hardship , spreading disease and a looming shutdown , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sign the legislation immediately , then have Congress follow up with additional aid .
Aside from unemployment benefits and relief payments to families , money for vaccine distribution , businesses , cash-starved public transit systems and more is on the line .
Protections against evictions also hung in the balance .
“ What the president is doing right now is unbelievably cruel , ” said Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. “ So many people are hurting .
… It is really insane and this president has got to finally … do the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worrying about his ego.
” Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania said he understood that Trump “ wants to be remembered for advocating for big checks , but the danger is he ’ ll be remembered for chaos and misery and erratic behavior if he allows this to expire.
” Toomey added : “ So I think the best thing to do , as I said , sign this and then make the case for subsequent legislation.
” The same point was echoed by Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan , a Republican who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response and his efforts to undo the election results .
“ I just gave up guessing what he might do next , ” he said .
Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois said too much is at stake for Trump to “ play this old switcheroo game.
” “ I don ’ t get the point , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t understand what ’ s being done , why , unless it ’ s just to create chaos and show power and be upset because you lost the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump turned on the deal .
Fingers pointed at administration officials , including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , as lawmakers tried to understand whether they were misled about Trump ’ s position .
“ Now to be put in a lurch , after the president ’ s own person negotiated something that the president doesn ’ t want , it ’ s just — it ’ s surprising , ” Kinzinger said .
Kinzinger spoke on CNN ’ s “ State of the Union , ” and Hogan and Sanders on ABC ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COLVIN , LISA MASCARO and ANDREW TAYLOR Associated Press

President Donald Trump signed a $900 billion pandemic relief package Sunday, ending days of drama over his refusal to accept the bipartisan deal that will deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and avert a federal government shutdown.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump signed a $900 billion pandemic relief package Sunday, ending days of drama over his refusal to accept the bipartisan deal that will deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and avert a federal government shutdown.
The massive bill includes $1.4 trillion to fund government agencies through September and contains other end-of-session priorities such as money for cash-starved transit systems and an increase in food stamp benefits.
Trump announced the signing in a statement Sunday night that spoke of his frustrations with the COVID-19 relief for including only $600 checks to most Americans instead of the $2,000 that his fellow Republicans rejected. He also complained about what he considered unnecessary spending by the government at large. But Trump's eleventh-hour objections created turmoil because lawmakers had thought he was supportive of the bill, which had been negotiated for months with White House input.
"I will sign the Omnibus and Covid package with a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed," Trump said in the statement.
While the president insisted he would send Congress "a redlined version" with items to be removed under the rescission process, those are merely suggestions to Congress. The bill, as signed, would not necessarily be changed.
Lawmakers now have breathing room to continue debating whether the relief checks should be as large as the president has demanded. The Democratic-led House supports the larger checks and is set to vote on the issue Monday, but it's expected to be ignored by the Republican-held Senate where spending faces opposition.
Republicans and Democrats swiftly welcomed Trump's decision to sign the bill into law.
"The compromise bill is not perfect, but it will do an enormous amount of good for struggling Kentuckians and Americans across the country who need help now," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. "I thank the President for signing this relief into law."
Democrats are promising more aid to come once President-elect Joe Biden takes office, but Republicans are signaling a wait-and-see approach.
In the face of growing economic hardship, spreading disease and a looming shutdown, lawmakers on Sunday had urged Trump to sign the legislation immediately, then have Congress follow up with additional aid. Aside from unemployment benefits and relief payments to families, money for vaccine distribution, businesses, cash-starved public transit systems and more is on the line. Protections against evictions also hung in the balance.
"What the president is doing right now is unbelievably cruel," said Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. "So many people are hurting. ... It is really insane and this president has got to finally ... do the right thing for the American people and stop worrying about his ego."
Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania said he understood that Trump "wants to be remembered for advocating for big checks, but the danger is he'll be remembered for chaos and misery and erratic behavior if he allows this to expire."
Toomey added: "So I think the best thing to do, as I said, sign this and then make the case for subsequent legislation."
The same point was echoed by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican who's criticized Trump's pandemic response and his efforts to undo the election results. "I just gave up guessing what he might do next," he said.
Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois said too much is at stake for Trump to "play this old switcheroo game."
"I don't get the point," he said. "I don't understand what's being done, why, unless it's just to create chaos and show power and be upset because you lost the election."
Washington had been reeling since Trump turned on the deal. Fingers pointed at administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, as lawmakers tried to understand whether they were misled about Trump's position.
"Now to be put in a lurch, after the president's own person negotiated something that the president doesn't want, it's just — it's surprising," Kinzinger said.
Kinzinger spoke on CNN's "State of the Union," and Hogan and Sanders on ABC's "This Week."
By JILL COLVIN, LISA MASCARO and ANDREW TAYLOR Associated Press


courthousenews--2020-12-29--House Votes to Override Trump Veto of Military Bill

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — Shutting down outgoing President Donald Trump ’ s veto of the $ 740 billion annual defense spending bill , the House of Representatives voted 322-87 Monday to override — leaving it to the Senate to make it law without his signature .
Trump vetoed the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act just ahead of Christmas , after both the House and Senate passed the legislation handily with broad bipartisan support .
Monday ’ s override marks the first of Trump ’ s presidency and comes as his only term as commander-in-chief ends in 23 days .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ raises for service members while extending benefits such as paid parental leave and infusing billions into cybersecurity programs , military construction projects , critical maintenance of defense systems , counterterrorism programs and more .
But Trump ’ s veto of the defense bill , which has passed unwaveringly for almost six decades until now , was based on a litany of personal objections which — while contentious — are mostly unrelated to the core of the NDAA ’ s function : To preserve the nation ’ s defense .
Trump first objected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measure to create a commission for the evaluation and eventual renaming of U.S. military installations presently memorializing Confederate darlings .
The renaming is an affront to the nation ’ s history , he has argued .
Then he called for the repeal of a wholly unrelated telecommunications law that shields media companies from legal liability when third party users post objectionable content on their platforms .
The law is known as Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act , and while Trump claims Congress ’ failure to end it represents “ very dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence gathering , the provision has nothing to do with either .
Trump also stymied the defense funding package claiming it is “ a gift ” to China and Russia .
But in its 4,000-plus pages , the legislation outlines $ 2.2 billion in new measures aimed at hardening the U.S. posture toward both including the formation of a Pacific Deterrence Initiative and mandated assessments on Chinese cyberespionage and money laundering in the region .
The bill also grants $ 250 million to Ukraine for its national security , a measure meant to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s efforts to expand its encroachment there .
The 2021 NDAA also authorizes mandatory sanctions against Turkey for its acquisition of a Russian air defense system .
The Treasury secretary is also approved to take “ any special measures ” necessary to deter money Russian money laundering .
Republican Representative Mac Thornberry of Texas — the bill ’ s namesake since he is not running for reelection next term — emphasized Monday that Trump ’ s veto ignored many of the package ’ s actual provisions .
“ It ’ s the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days ago .
Not a comma has changed .
It still prevents the military from having their pay cut .
It still creates new tools to deal with a newly aggressive China , ” he said .
“ One thing I guess is new in the past few days was a devastating cyberattack by Russia that has been exposed .
But fortunately , this bill has dozens of positions to strengthen the country ’ s defense on cyber.
” Trump exercised his “ constitutional prerogative ” by vetoing the bill .
But a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the world , Thornberry said — that there is unified support , despite all other political differences , to sustain the strength of the U.S. military .
Connecticut Democrat Representative Adam Smith , who chairs the House Armed Services Committee and joined Thornberry in sponsoring the bill , said the House ’ s vote to override Trump ’ s veto is more than symbolic .
“ It ’ s enormously important to give our troops the support they need to carry out the job that we are all asking them to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obligations as members of Congress , ” he said .
Representative Al Green , who flew to Washington from Texas to vote on the override Monday night , underlined that had Trump ’ s veto stood the consequences would have been multiplied for service members who already jeopardize their lives and safety on a regular basis .
The veto , for example , would have forgone suicide prevention resources .
Further , Green noted it would have upheld the “ memorialization on military bases of the legacies of men who fought to defend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Slavery.
” “ This is the least a grateful nation can do for those who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice because , in truth , either we will protect our protectors or we won ’ t have protectors to protect us , ” Green said .
The override effort goes next to the Senate and requires a two-thirds majority there to make the bill law without Trump ’ s signature .
A single senator could ultimately delay the vote by employing a series of procedural hurdles and it is expected that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ object to the override since he was opposed to the NDAA ’ s passage initially .
Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont , an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats , may also disrupt the override in the Senate .
He announced via tweet Monday evening that he would object to voting on the NDAA until the Senate approves a bill passed by the House on Monday that would boost coronavirus stimulus checks from $ 600 to $ 2,000 per person .
The House approved the measure 275-134 , and Senate Majority Leader Mitch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pass the bill .

Shutting down outgoing President Donald Trump’s veto of the $740 billion annual defense spending bill, the House of Representatives voted 322-87 Monday to override — leaving it to the Senate to make it law without his signature.
WASHINGTON (CN) — Shutting down outgoing President Donald Trump’s veto of the $740 billion annual defense spending bill, the House of Representatives voted 322-87 Monday to override — leaving it to the Senate to make it law without his signature.
Trump vetoed the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act just ahead of Christmas, after both the House and Senate passed the legislation handily with broad bipartisan support.
Monday’s override marks the first of Trump’s presidency and comes as his only term as commander-in-chief ends in 23 days.
The package boasts popular measures like pay raises for service members while extending benefits such as paid parental leave and infusing billions into cybersecurity programs, military construction projects, critical maintenance of defense systems, counterterrorism programs and more.
But Trump’s veto of the defense bill, which has passed unwaveringly for almost six decades until now, was based on a litany of personal objections which — while contentious — are mostly unrelated to the core of the NDAA’s function: To preserve the nation’s defense.
Trump first objected to the bill’s inclusion of a measure to create a commission for the evaluation and eventual renaming of U.S. military installations presently memorializing Confederate darlings. The renaming is an affront to the nation’s history, he has argued.
Then he called for the repeal of a wholly unrelated telecommunications law that shields media companies from legal liability when third party users post objectionable content on their platforms. The law is known as Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, and while Trump claims Congress’ failure to end it represents “very dangerous national security risk” and thwarts U.S. intelligence gathering, the provision has nothing to do with either.
Trump also stymied the defense funding package claiming it is “a gift” to China and Russia. But in its 4,000-plus pages, the legislation outlines $2.2 billion in new measures aimed at hardening the U.S. posture toward both including the formation of a Pacific Deterrence Initiative and mandated assessments on Chinese cyberespionage and money laundering in the region.
The bill also grants $250 million to Ukraine for its national security, a measure meant to show U.S. support for Ukraine against Russia’s efforts to expand its encroachment there. The 2021 NDAA also authorizes mandatory sanctions against Turkey for its acquisition of a Russian air defense system. The Treasury secretary is also approved to take “any special measures” necessary to deter Russian money laundering.
Republican Representative Mac Thornberry of Texas — the bill’s namesake since he is not running for reelection next term — emphasized Monday that Trump’s veto ignored many of the package’s actual provisions.
“It’s the exact same bill the House supported 20 days ago. Not a comma has changed. It still prevents the military from having their pay cut. It still creates new tools to deal with a newly aggressive China,” he said. “One thing I guess is new in the past few days was a devastating cyberattack by Russia that has been exposed. But fortunately, this bill has dozens of positions to strengthen the country’s defense on cyber.”
Trump exercised his “constitutional prerogative” by vetoing the bill. But a successful override would send an important signal to the world, Thornberry said — that there is unified support, despite all other political differences, to sustain the strength of the U.S. military.
Connecticut Democrat Representative Adam Smith, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee and joined Thornberry in sponsoring the bill, said the House’s vote to override Trump’s veto is more than symbolic.
“It’s enormously important to give our troops the support they need to carry out the job that we are all asking them to do. That is one of our minimum obligations as members of Congress,” he said.
Representative Al Green, who flew to Washington from Texas to vote on the override Monday night, underlined that had Trump’s veto stood the consequences would have been multiplied for service members who already jeopardize their lives and safety on a regular basis. The veto, for example, would have forgone suicide prevention resources.
Further, Green noted it would have upheld the “memorialization on military bases of the legacies of men who fought to defend our nation’s original sin: Slavery.”
“This is the least a grateful nation can do for those who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice because, in truth, either we will protect our protectors or we won’t have protectors to protect us,” Green said.
The override effort goes next to the Senate and requires a two-thirds majority there to make the bill law without Trump’s signature. A single senator could ultimately delay the vote by employing a series of procedural hurdles and it is expected that Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky will object to the override since he was opposed to the NDAA’s passage initially.
Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats, may also disrupt the override in the Senate. He announced via tweet Monday evening that he would object to voting on the NDAA until the Senate approves a bill passed by the House on Monday that would boost coronavirus stimulus checks from $600 to $2,000 per person.
The House approved the measure 275-134, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has indicated he would be willing to pass the bill.


courthousenews--2020-12-28--Virtual Reality Reveals Fatal Flaw in Soccer’s Free Kick

( CN ) — A goalkeeper ’ s ability to stop free kicks can make or break any football team .
But virtual reality shows the defensive wall of players meant to block the kick may be more of a hindrance than an aid .
The revered game of football , or “ soccer ” as it ’ s called in the United States , is set by fielding 11 players from a team against 11 players from an opposing team .
Included in the batch of athletes are two goalkeepers on opposite ends of the field who are tasked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goal line in their respective posts .
During a game , free kicks represent a unique goal-scoring opportunity typically triggered when a player commits a foul on an opposing player near the defending goal .
Rules require the ball be at rest while the defending goalkeeper lines up his teammates in a wall of bodies meant to make it more difficult for the attacking team to score .
Once the play is set and the referee blows their whistle to initiate the kick , a mix of talent , fate and luck dictate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s net or not .
Researcher Cathy Craig of Ulster University in Belfast said in a statement released with the study that understanding the goalie ’ s thought process is critical to understanding the play .
“ Although goalkeepers might claim to ‘ see ’ the ball through the wall of players before it is kicked , they will most likely not see how that initial part of the ball trajectory unfolds just after it has been kicked , ” Craig said .
“ It ’ s that important information the brain needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ball is going and when it will get there.
” To understand free kick outcomes more comprehensively , a team of Northern Ireland-based researchers dug deeper into the ritual and examined what role , if any , the defensive wall plays in shaping the score line .
Removing the need for a wall of real players , researchers used virtual reality to simulate a free kick and study the goalkeeper ’ s reaction to it based on both flight trajectory and the wall ’ s position .
Using both novice and skilled goalkeepers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s placement impacts a goalie ’ s initial movements once the ball leaves the attacker ’ s foot .
In elite football leagues , the ball can reach a goalkeeper in less than a second from within 33 yards of the goal .
The study found having a defensive wall may result in conceding more goals because it impedes a goalkeeper ’ s view of the kicker and delays quick tracking of the ball ’ s trajectory , according to the study published Dec. 23 in the journal PLOS ONE .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to warrant the suggestion that goalkeepers should evaluate whether placing a wall is always their best option , ” researchers wrote in the 20-page study .
“ For instance , when faced with a free kick expert whose shots on goal are hardly ever blocked by the wall , the only possible goalkeeping benefit of the wall would be preventing some more challenging shots .
“ Scientifically , the relative contributions of various effects of the wall on the goalkeeper ( e.g.
, occlusion of the kicker and initial ball trajectory ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kicking strategies ) remain to be determined–such knowledge evidently is also highly relevant for practical impact.
” For both novice and skilled goalies , the presence of a defensive wall significantly impacted their ability to stop the free kick , especially if the kick was taken from a central position facing the goal .
The results should not be taken as evidence that defensive walls should be abolished , researchers said in the statement , adding that teams can instead evaluate the findings to determine whether a defensive wall is a good tool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggesting goalkeepers should never use a wall , but we are saying they should consider whether the benefits of placing a wall outweigh the negative effects of not seeing that initial part of the ball flight , ” Queen ’ s University researcher Joost C. Dessing said in the statement .
But the study also affirmed that expert free kick takers have been exploiting the “ occlusion ” for decades , knowing the wall can be an asset for the attacking team .
“ Clearly , wall-induced occlusion renders the free-kick scenario a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacking and defending teams , ” the study said .
Co-authors of the study include Theofilos Valkanidis and Alan Cummins of Queen ’ s University Belfast .
Based on the research , Craig has developed CleanSheet , a virtual reality tool to help goalies prepare for free kicks .
The study was funded by the European Union Seventh Framework Programme , the European Union ’ s Horizon 2020 and the European Research Council .

A goalkeeper’s ability to stop free kicks can make or break any football team. But virtual reality shows the defensive wall of players meant to block the kick may be more of a hindrance than an aid.
(CN) — A goalkeeper’s ability to stop free kicks can make or break any football team. But virtual reality shows the defensive wall of players meant to block the kick may be more of a hindrance than an aid.
The revered game of football, or “soccer” as it’s called in the United States, is set by fielding 11 players from a team against 11 players from an opposing team. Included in the batch of athletes are two goalkeepers on opposite ends of the field who are tasked with stopping the ball from crossing the goal line in their respective posts.
During a game, free kicks represent a unique goal-scoring opportunity typically triggered when a player commits a foul on an opposing player near the defending goal. Rules require the ball be at rest while the defending goalkeeper lines up his teammates in a wall of bodies meant to make it more difficult for the attacking team to score.
Once the play is set and the referee blows their whistle to initiate the kick, a mix of talent, fate and luck dictate whether the ball bulges the goalie’s net or not.
Researcher Cathy Craig of Ulster University in Belfast said in a statement released with the study that understanding the goalie’s thought process is critical to understanding the play.
“Although goalkeepers might claim to ‘see’ the ball through the wall of players before it is kicked, they will most likely not see how that initial part of the ball trajectory unfolds just after it has been kicked,” Craig said. “It’s that important information the brain needs to make a decision about where the ball is going and when it will get there.”
To understand free kick outcomes more comprehensively, a team of Northern Ireland-based researchers dug deeper into the ritual and examined what role, if any, the defensive wall plays in shaping the score line.
Removing the need for a wall of real players, researchers used virtual reality to simulate a free kick and study the goalkeeper’s reaction to it based on both flight trajectory and the wall’s position.
Using both novice and skilled goalkeepers, researchers measured how the defensive wall’s placement impacts a goalie’s initial movements once the ball leaves the attacker’s foot.
In elite football leagues, the ball can reach a goalkeeper in less than a second from within 33 yards of the goal.
The study found having a defensive wall may result in conceding more goals because it impedes a goalkeeper’s view of the kicker and delays quick tracking of the ball’s trajectory, according to the study published Dec. 23 in the journal PLOS ONE.
“The effect was substantial and consistent enough to warrant the suggestion that goalkeepers should evaluate whether placing a wall is always their best option,” researchers wrote in the 20-page study. “For instance, when faced with a free kick expert whose shots on goal are hardly ever blocked by the wall, the only possible goalkeeping benefit of the wall would be preventing some more challenging shots.
“Scientifically, the relative contributions of various effects of the wall on the goalkeeper (e.g., occlusion of the kicker and initial ball trajectory) and kicker (i.e., aiming benefits and kicking strategies) remain to be determined–such knowledge evidently is also highly relevant for practical impact.”
For both novice and skilled goalies, the presence of a defensive wall significantly impacted their ability to stop the free kick, especially if the kick was taken from a central position facing the goal.
The results should not be taken as evidence that defensive walls should be abolished, researchers said in the statement, adding that teams can instead evaluate the findings to determine whether a defensive wall is a good tool or not.
“We are not suggesting goalkeepers should never use a wall, but we are saying they should consider whether the benefits of placing a wall outweigh the negative effects of not seeing that initial part of the ball flight,” Queen’s University researcher Joost C. Dessing said in the statement.
But the study also affirmed that expert free kick takers have been exploiting the “occlusion” for decades, knowing the wall can be an asset for the attacking team.
“Clearly, wall-induced occlusion renders the free-kick scenario a game of cat and mouse between the attacking and defending teams,” the study said.
Co-authors of the study include Theofilos Valkanidis and Alan Cummins of Queen’s University Belfast.
Based on the research, Craig has developed CleanSheet, a virtual reality tool to help goalies prepare for free kicks.
The study was funded by the European Union Seventh Framework Programme, the European Union's Horizon 2020 and the European Research Council.


courthousenews--2020-12-28--House Votes to Bump Stimulus Checks Up to $2,000

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — House lawmakers voted Monday to increase coronavirus relief payments from $ 600 to $ 2,000 , but the legislation could hit a roadblock in the Republican-controlled Senate .
The CASH Act – short for Caring for Americans With Supplemental Help – more than triples the direct payments that were included in the $ 900 billion stimulus package passed last week .
The measure passed in a 275-134 vote late Monday .
The increase would cost another $ 300 billion if it clears the Senate and is signed by President Trump – $ 464 billion compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 600 checks to people making up to $ 75,000 a year .
President Donald Trump demanded the larger checks last Tuesday in a 14-minute video posted to Facebook after hiding that recording session from the majority of White House aides , according to the Associated Press .
Two days later , House Democrats sought to approve the president ’ s request by unanimous consent , but were blocked from doing so by Republicans .
It only took one objection from Republican Rob Wittman of Virginia to sink the voice vote .
Whether Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation – which was paired with an omnibus package to fund the federal government – remained a mystery throughout the weekend .
Departing for his Mar-a-Lago golf resort in Florida last Wednesday evening , the president gave no indication of his decision , after vetoing a defense spending bill hours before .
But on Sunday night , 18 hours after unemployment benefits lapsed for millions of Americans , Trump tweeted there would be good news on the bill and soon after signed the bill into law .
“ I will sign the Omnibus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed , ” Trump said in a statement .
The fate of the new bill bumping checks up to $ 2,000 is unclear in the Senate .
Just two weeks ago , Senator Ron Johnson , a Wisconsin Republican , balked at the idea of approving a $ 1,200 direct payment to most families , signaling a higher amount would be unlikely to get the backing of Republicans in that chamber .
Some House Republicans broke with Trump on Monday , rejecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Texas Republican , said during a floor debate that lawmakers should instead pass targeted relief going to main streets , “ truly stimulating our local economy.
” Some Democrats also split with their party on the new bill , including Congressman Kurt Schrader of Oregon , who said the bill was an “ ineffective and poorly targeted approach to aiding Americans in distress.
” “ It is clearly a last-minute political maneuver by the president and extremists on both sides of the political spectrum , who have been largely absent during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schrader said .
“ They have chosen to tweet their opinions instead of coming to the table to get aide in the hands of Americans and small businesses that need it most.
” Democratic Representative Al Green of Texas said at some point “ on the infinite continuum we call time , ” every member would have to account for their decisions regarding the Covid-19 pandemic .
Lawmakers had ordered state governments closed as a result of a pandemic , so lawmakers should put money in the hands of Americans , Green said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you had the opportunity to put money in the pockets of people who needed it ?
” Green said .
“ Where was your courage when you had the chance to cast the vote to make a difference in the lives of people ?
” Congressman Richard Neal , a Massachusetts Democrat who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee , introduced the legislation on Christmas Eve , and said he had been thinking of Jacob Marley ’ s ghastly warning to Ebenezer Scrooge in “ A Christmas Carol ” about his path @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resulted in one of the largest tax cuts in American history three years ago , slashing corporate and individual rates , mostly for wealthy Americans .
And now the Christmas present includes millions of Americans out of work , 19 million infected with Covid-19 and more than 330,000 dead from the respiratory disease .
“ But for the Christmas future , Marley warned Ebenezer Scrooge there was a way for redemption and that was through a new generosity and a new kindness , ” Neal said Monday .
“ And we could emulate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raising that impact payment from $ 600 to $ 2,000 .
The miracle of this season would remain the triumph of light for those who desperately need our assistance .
”

House lawmakers voted Monday to increase coronavirus relief payments from $600 to $2,000, but the legislation could hit a roadblock in the Republican-controlled Senate.
WASHINGTON (CN) — House lawmakers voted Monday to increase coronavirus relief payments from $600 to $2,000, but the legislation could hit a roadblock in the Republican-controlled Senate.
The CASH Act – short for Caring for Americans With Supplemental Help – more than triples the direct payments that were included in the $900 billion stimulus package passed last week. The measure passed in a 275-134 vote late Monday.
The increase would cost another $300 billion if it clears the Senate and is signed by President Trump – $464 billion compared to $164 billion for the $600 checks to people making up to $75,000 a year.
President Donald Trump demanded the larger checks last Tuesday in a 14-minute video posted to Facebook after hiding that recording session from the majority of White House aides, according to the Associated Press.
Two days later, House Democrats sought to approve the president’s request by unanimous consent, but were blocked from doing so by Republicans. It only took one objection from Republican Rob Wittman of Virginia to sink the voice vote.
Whether Trump would sign or veto the Covid-19 relief legislation – which was paired with an omnibus package to fund the federal government – remained a mystery throughout the weekend.
Departing for his Mar-a-Lago golf resort in Florida last Wednesday evening, the president gave no indication of his decision, after vetoing a defense spending bill hours before.
But on Sunday night, 18 hours after unemployment benefits lapsed for millions of Americans, Trump tweeted there would be good news on the bill and soon after signed the bill into law.
“I will sign the Omnibus and Covid package with a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed,” Trump said in a statement.
The fate of the new bill bumping checks up to $2,000 is unclear in the Senate. Just two weeks ago, Senator Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, balked at the idea of approving a $1,200 direct payment to most families, signaling a higher amount would be unlikely to get the backing of Republicans in that chamber.
Some House Republicans broke with Trump on Monday, rejecting the larger payments. Congressman Kevin Brady, a Texas Republican, said during a floor debate that lawmakers should instead pass targeted relief going to main streets, “truly stimulating our local economy.”
Some Democrats also split with their party on the new bill, including Congressman Kurt Schrader of Oregon, who said the bill was an “ineffective and poorly targeted approach to aiding Americans in distress.”
“It is clearly a last-minute political maneuver by the president and extremists on both sides of the political spectrum, who have been largely absent during months of very hard negotiations,” Schrader said. “They have chosen to tweet their opinions instead of coming to the table to get aide in the hands of Americans and small businesses that need it most.”
Democratic Representative Al Green of Texas said at some point “on the infinite continuum we call time,” every member would have to account for their decisions regarding the Covid-19 pandemic. Lawmakers had ordered state governments closed as a result of a pandemic, so lawmakers should put money in the hands of Americans, Green said.
“What did you do when you had the opportunity to put money in the pockets of people who needed it?” Green said. “Where was your courage when you had the chance to cast the vote to make a difference in the lives of people?”
Congressman Richard Neal, a Massachusetts Democrat who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, introduced the legislation on Christmas Eve, and said he had been thinking of Jacob Marley’s ghastly warning to Ebenezer Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol” about his path of redemption.
He said Christmases past resulted in one of the largest tax cuts in American history three years ago, slashing corporate and individual rates, mostly for wealthy Americans. And now the Christmas present includes millions of Americans out of work, 19 million infected with Covid-19 and more than 330,000 dead from the respiratory disease.
“But for the Christmas future, Marley warned Ebenezer Scrooge there was a way for redemption and that was through a new generosity and a new kindness,” Neal said Monday. “And we could emulate that here, this afternoon, by raising that impact payment from $600 to $2,000. The miracle of this season would remain the triumph of light for those who desperately need our assistance.”


courthousenews--2020-12-28--Stay-At-Home Orders Likely to Be Extended Across Much of California

( CN ) — California will likely extend stay-at-home orders for some of the hardest hit regions Tuesday due to a Covid surge that has pushed hospitals to a breaking point and because many people ignored warnings against travel during the winter holidays .
The Golden State has become the nation ’ s coronavirus epicenter in recent weeks , overrunning hospitals with record-breaking numbers of admissions and deaths after Thanksgiving .
Now the state faces a post-Christmas surge moving into the new year .
Governor Gavin Newsom said it ’ s all but inevitable that state health officials will extend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California region and others where Covid-19 is running rampant .
“ Now as we move into this new phase — a phase where we brace , where we prepare ourselves for what is inevitable now , ” Newsom said during a Monday briefing .
“ Based on the movement , based on the travel we have seen in just the last week and the expectation of more of the same through the rest of the holiday season : of a surge on top of , arguably , on top of again another surge.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ large numbers of people traveled over the winter holidays .
The Transportation Security Administration reported screening 1.28 million people at airport checkpoints on Dec. 26 alone .
At the same time , Los Angeles County hospitals turned away ambulances arriving with the large influx of patients sick with the virus .
And health care providers in the San Joaquin Valley region reported their ICUs are also full and at surge capacity .
The three-week stay-at-home orders for those regions had been set to expire Jan. 4 .
But Newsom said LA County ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the last several days support new health orders — though he didn ’ t specify what that will entail .
“ This is now taking its toll on hospitals , ” said Newsom , who is quarantining at home after being exposed to a staffer with Covid-19 .
It ’ s the second time Newsom has been quarantined in recent months , but he and his family continue to test negative for the virus .
The dark cloud hanging over California has some silver linings , however .
The state will receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moderna and Pfizer , which will be administered to health care workers and residents at skilled nursing homes in the coming days .
Walgreens and CVS pharmacies across the state will handle vaccinations except in LA County , which will administer the vaccines through its own program .
Hospitalizations have also leveled off in recent days — except in Southern California .
On Sunday , LA County added over 13,000 new infections to its total of more than 719,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began .
Roughly 1 in 95 of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , which has so far claimed over 8,900 Angelenos .
County Supervisor Hilda Solis said the latest surge is alarming and could have been avoided .
“ And frankly the alarm was pulled over a month ago .
But people did not heed that warning , ” said Solis .
“ Some days we ’ re seeing 200 to 300 additional hospitalized each day .
More than ever are dying : 148 people died of Covid-19 on Christmas Eve alone .
One person is dying from Covid every 10 minutes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not be normalized.
” Hospitalizations in recent day jumped to levels 1,000 % higher than the spring , with some 6,900 Angelenos hospitalized with Covid-19 as of Monday .
In the last 24 hours , LA County reported over 13,000 new cases and over 70 deaths , but that figure will likely go up in the next few days due to a lag in reported deaths over the holiday break .
“ It has been hard to find joy this holiday season in light of the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sad reality is our situation will only get worse as we begin 2021 , ” said LA County Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer during a Monday briefing .
Every new person who can not catch their breath in the coming weeks will join thousands more in LA County hospitals who are struggling to stay alive .
The county only has 54 available ICU beds for both adults and children , and hospital personnel have taken to treating patients in conference rooms , gift shops and even in ambulances idling outside facilities that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The glut of travelers who flaunted health orders does not bode well for hospitals across the state , but especially in LA according to County Health Director Dr. Christina Ghaly .
“ The most concerning part of what we ’ re facing is that as sad as it is , the worst is almost certainly yet to come , ” said Ghaly .
State officials have sent over 1,000 health workers to the southern part of the state in recent days due to the surge taxing hospitals there .
Those include medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and others health officials .
On Monday , California reported over 33,000 new cases and 64 deaths over a 24-hour period .

California will likely extend stay-at-home orders for some of the hardest hit regions Tuesday due to a Covid surge that has pushed hospitals to a breaking point and because many people ignored warnings against travel during the winter holidays.
(CN) — California will likely extend stay-at-home orders for some of the hardest hit regions Tuesday due to a Covid surge that has pushed hospitals to a breaking point and because many people ignored warnings against travel during the winter holidays.
The Golden State has become the nation’s coronavirus epicenter in recent weeks, overrunning hospitals with record-breaking numbers of admissions and deaths after Thanksgiving. Now the state faces a post-Christmas surge moving into the new year.
Governor Gavin Newsom said it’s all but inevitable that state health officials will extend the regional health order for the Southern California region and others where Covid-19 is running rampant.
“Now as we move into this new phase — a phase where we brace, where we prepare ourselves for what is inevitable now,” Newsom said during a Monday briefing. “Based on the movement, based on the travel we have seen in just the last week and the expectation of more of the same through the rest of the holiday season: of a surge on top of, arguably, on top of again another surge.”
Newsom said cellphone data showed that large numbers of people traveled over the winter holidays. The Transportation Security Administration reported screening 1.28 million people at airport checkpoints on Dec. 26 alone.
At the same time, Los Angeles County hospitals turned away ambulances arriving with the large influx of patients sick with the virus. And health care providers in the San Joaquin Valley region reported their ICUs are also full and at surge capacity.
The three-week stay-at-home orders for those regions had been set to expire Jan. 4. But Newsom said LA County’s 13,000 to 15,000 new cases daily for the last several days support new health orders — though he didn't specify what that will entail.
“This is now taking its toll on hospitals,” said Newsom, who is quarantining at home after being exposed to a staffer with Covid-19. It's the second time Newsom has been quarantined in recent months, but he and his family continue to test negative for the virus.
The dark cloud hanging over California has some silver linings, however. The state will receive over 1.7 million Covid-19 vaccines produced by Moderna and Pfizer, which will be administered to health care workers and residents at skilled nursing homes in the coming days.
Walgreens and CVS pharmacies across the state will handle vaccinations except in LA County, which will administer the vaccines through its own program.
Hospitalizations have also leveled off in recent days — except in Southern California.
On Sunday, LA County added over 13,000 new infections to its total of more than 719,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began. Roughly 1 in 95 of the region’s 10 million residents have the virus, which has so far claimed over 8,900 Angelenos.
County Supervisor Hilda Solis said the latest surge is alarming and could have been avoided.
“And frankly the alarm was pulled over a month ago. But people did not heed that warning,” said Solis. “Some days we’re seeing 200 to 300 additional hospitalized each day. More than ever are dying: 148 people died of Covid-19 on Christmas Eve alone. One person is dying from Covid every 10 minutes in LA County. These are figures that cannot be normalized.”
Hospitalizations in recent days jumped to levels 1,000% higher than the spring, with some 6,900 Angelenos hospitalized with Covid-19 as of Monday. In the last 24 hours, LA County reported over 13,000 new cases and over 70 deaths, but that figure will likely go up in the next few days due to a lag in reported deaths over the holiday break.
“It has been hard to find joy this holiday season in light of the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on some many across this county. The sad reality is our situation will only get worse as we begin 2021,” said LA County Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer during a Monday briefing.
Every new person who cannot catch their breath in the coming weeks will join thousands more in LA County hospitals who are struggling to stay alive.
The county only has 54 available ICU beds for both adults and children, and hospital personnel have taken to treating patients in conference rooms, gift shops and even in ambulances idling outside facilities that are too full to receive the sick.
The glut of travelers who flouted health orders does not bode well for hospitals across the state, but especially in LA according to County Health Director Dr. Christina Ghaly.
"The most concerning part of what we’re facing is that as sad as it is, the worst is almost certainly yet to come," said Ghaly.
State officials have sent over 1,000 health workers to the southern part of the state in recent days due to the surge taxing hospitals there. Those include medical corps workers, the California National Guard and others health officials.
On Monday, California reported over 33,000 new cases and 64 deaths over a 24-hour period.


Top Eight

Your Monday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News Top eight stories for today including President-elect Joe Biden accused the Trump administration ’ s national security team of obstructing the transition ; Courts in Nashville continued to experience phone and email outages because of the bomb that tore through a quiet downtown street Christmas morning ; The World Health Organization said the coronavirus will likely remain with humans for years to come , and more .
Sign up for the CNS Top Eight , a roundup of the day ’ s top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a speech Monday , President-elect Joe Biden accused the Trump administration ’ s national security team of obstructing the transition , meaning his team will have to play catch up once he is sworn in as president Jan. 20 .
2 . )
Just over a week before Congress meets to formalize Democrat Joe Biden ’ s victory in the November presidential election , a Republican lawmaker from Texas is asking a federal judge to give Vice President Mike Pence the exclusive power to throw out Electoral College votes .
3 . )
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was released from the big house Monday after serving two months in federal prison for her part in the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal .
4 . )
Finding that Ghislaine Maxwell poses the same flight risk as when she was arrested , a federal judge refused Monday to let the British socialite out of jail before her trial on charges of assisting Jeffrey Epstein recruit girls and young women for sex .
5 . )
Courts in Nashville continued to experience phone and email outages Monday morning because of the bomb that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with restaurants and bars Christmas morning .
6 . )
The California Supreme Court ruled Monday that nonviolent sex offenders can be considered for early parole under an initiative passed in 2016 that extended parole eligibility to all inmates convicted of nonviolent felonies .
7 . )
Nearly one year since the novel coronavirus first emerged in China , the World Health Organization on Monday said the virus will likely remain with humans for years to come , just like influenza .
8 . )
Scientists revealed Monday that big bumblebees , able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , are pickier about which flowers to draw nectar from and put in more effort to find them .

Top eight stories for today including President-elect Joe Biden accused the Trump administration’s national security team of obstructing the transition; Courts in Nashville continued to experience phone and email outages because of the bomb that tore through a quiet downtown street Christmas morning; The World Health Organization said the coronavirus will likely remain with humans for years to come, and more.
Your Monday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News
Top eight stories for today including President-elect Joe Biden accused the Trump administration’s national security team of obstructing the transition; Courts in Nashville continued to experience phone and email outages because of the bomb that tore through a quiet downtown street Christmas morning; The World Health Organization said the coronavirus will likely remain with humans for years to come, and more.
Sign up for the CNS Top Eight, a roundup of the day’s top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday through Friday.
National
1.) In a speech Monday, President-elect Joe Biden accused the Trump administration’s national security team of obstructing the transition, meaning his team will have to play catch up once he is sworn in as president Jan. 20.
President-elect Joe Biden speaks at a drive-in rally for Georgia Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
2.) Just over a week before Congress meets to formalize Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in the November presidential election, a Republican lawmaker from Texas is asking a federal judge to give Vice President Mike Pence the exclusive power to throw out Electoral College votes.
Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, studies notes during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the oversight of the Department of Justice on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, July 28, 2020 in Washington. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post via AP, Pool)
3.) “Full House” actress Lori Loughlin was released from the big house Monday after serving two months in federal prison for her part in the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal.
Lori Loughlin and husband Mossimo Giannulli, left, depart federal court in Boston on Wednesday, April 2019, after facing charges in a nationwide college admissions bribery scandal. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
4.) Finding that Ghislaine Maxwell poses the same flight risk as when she was arrested, a federal judge refused Monday to let the British socialite out of jail before her trial on charges of assisting Jeffrey Epstein recruit girls and young women for sex.
In this July 2, 2020, file photo, Audrey Strauss, acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, points to a photo of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell during a news conference, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
Regional
5.) Courts in Nashville continued to experience phone and email outages Monday morning because of the bomb that tore through a quiet downtown street lined with restaurants and bars Christmas morning.
Investigators continue to examine the site of an explosion Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in downtown Nashville, Tenn. An explosion that shook the largely deserted streets of downtown Nashville early Christmas morning shattered windows, damaged buildings and wounded multiple people. Authorities said they believed the blast was intentional. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
6.) The California Supreme Court ruled Monday that nonviolent sex offenders can be considered for early parole under an initiative passed in 2016 that extended parole eligibility to all inmates convicted of nonviolent felonies.
The California Supreme Court building in San Francisco. (Maria Dinzeo/Courthouse News)
International
7.) Nearly one year since the novel coronavirus first emerged in China, the World Health Organization on Monday said the virus will likely remain with humans for years to come, just like influenza.
A nurse prepares to administer a dose of Pfizer BioNtech's Covid-19 vaccine.(Katia Christodoulou/Pool Photo via AP)
Science
8.) Scientists revealed Monday that big bumblebees, able to carry more than their smaller counterparts, are pickier about which flowers to draw nectar from and put in more effort to find them.


courthousenews--2020-12-28--Nonviolent Sex Offenders Eligible for Early Parole, California Justices Rule

SAN FRANCISCO ( CN ) — The California Supreme Court ruled Monday that nonviolent sex offenders can be considered for early parole under an initiative passed in 2016 that extended parole eligibility to all inmates convicted of nonviolent felonies .
Writing for the unanimous court , Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye said the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation can not deny “ even the mere possibility of parole to an entire category ” of inmates under Proposition 57 .
The voter-backed initiative says that “ [ a ] ny person convicted of a nonviolent felony offense and sentenced to state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after completing the full term for his or her primary offense.
” The constitutional amendment “ is not ambiguous concerning its scope regarding offenders who were previously convicted of a registerable sex offense or who are currently convicted of a registerable sex offense that the department has itself defined as nonviolent , ” Cantil-Sakauye wrote .
“ As it stands , the initiative ’ s language provides no indication that the voters intended to allow the department to create a wholesale exclusion from parole consideration based on an inmate ’ s sex offense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nonviolent felony .
We decline to create one ourselves , ” she continued , adding the department “ is left with ample room to protect public safety by crafting the specific processes under which parole suitability is determined on a case-by-case basis.
” The chief justice noted the ruling does not require immediate parole for any particular inmate , and the department and the Board of Parole Hearings must continue to evaluate inmates ’ suitability for parole .
But while it can deny parole hearings to violent felony sex offenders , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exclude from parole consideration an entire class of inmates when those inmates have been convicted of nonviolent felony offenses , ” she wrote .
Proposition 57 also contained a provision allowing the corrections department to adopt regulations furthering the goal of protecting and enhancing public safety , which Deputy Attorney General Charles Chung urged the high court to consider at a hearing in October .
But attorney Janice Bellucci said Ralph Diaz , then-secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation , ignored the will of the voters and rewrote the language of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required to register as a sex offender from the possibility of early parole .
Bellucci , also the executive director of the Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws , told the court that “ by doing so , CDCR treats every sex offense as a violent offense.
” Cantil-Sakauye said if the initiative drafters intended to exclude all sex offenders from nonviolent offender parole consideration , they would have explicitly said so .
But she carefully noted the difference between qualifying for parole consideration and early release .
“ A conclusion that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consideration does not require the department to find each of those inmates suitable for parole .
Indeed , many factors relevant to public safety may best be addressed through parole suitability determinations , ” she wrote .
“ Public safety is one of CDCR ’ s primary missions .
Today ’ s ruling does not mean that anyone will automatically be released to the community ; it means that sex offenders currently serving time for nonviolent offenses will have the opportunity to go before the Board of Parole Hearings under the Proposition 57 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ release , ” Simas said in an email .
“ The parole board will assess their case factors individually , including whether they continue to pose a public safety risk .
Today ’ s ruling will have no impact on the existing exclusion of individuals convicted of violent felony sex offenses from this parole process .
”

The California Supreme Court ruled Monday that nonviolent sex offenders can be considered for early parole under an initiative passed in 2016 that extended parole eligibility to all inmates convicted of nonviolent felonies.
SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — The California Supreme Court ruled Monday that nonviolent sex offenders can be considered for early parole under an initiative passed in 2016 that extended parole eligibility to all inmates convicted of nonviolent felonies.
Writing for the unanimous court, Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye said the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation cannot deny "even the mere possibility of parole to an entire category” of inmates under Proposition 57. The voter-backed initiative says that “[a]ny person convicted of a nonviolent felony offense and sentenced to state prison shall be eligible for parole consideration after completing the full term for his or her primary offense.”
The constitutional amendment "is not ambiguous concerning its scope regarding offenders who were previously convicted of a registerable sex offense or who are currently convicted of a registerable sex offense that the department has itself defined as nonviolent,” Cantil-Sakauye wrote.
“As it stands, the initiative’s language provides no indication that the voters intended to allow the department to create a wholesale exclusion from parole consideration based on an inmate’s sex offense convictions when the inmate was convicted of a nonviolent felony. We decline to create one ourselves,” she continued, adding the department “is left with ample room to protect public safety by crafting the specific processes under which parole suitability is determined on a case-by-case basis.”
The chief justice noted the ruling does not require immediate parole for any particular inmate, and the department and the Board of Parole Hearings must continue to evaluate inmates’ suitability for parole. But while it can deny parole hearings to violent felony sex offenders, "the department is not permitted to entirely exclude from parole consideration an entire class of inmates when those inmates have been convicted of nonviolent felony offenses,” she wrote.
Proposition 57 also contained a provision allowing the corrections department to adopt regulations furthering the goal of protecting and enhancing public safety, which Deputy Attorney General Charles Chung urged the high court to consider at a hearing in October.
But attorney Janice Bellucci said Ralph Diaz, then-secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, ignored the will of the voters and rewrote the language of Proposition 57 to categorically exclude any prisoner required to register as a sex offender from the possibility of early parole. Bellucci, also the executive director of the Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws, told the court that “by doing so, CDCR treats every sex offense as a violent offense.”
Cantil-Sakauye said if the initiative drafters intended to exclude all sex offenders from nonviolent offender parole consideration, they would have explicitly said so. But she carefully noted the difference between qualifying for parole consideration and early release.
“A conclusion that the electorate made certain inmates eligible for parole consideration does not require the department to find each of those inmates suitable for parole. Indeed, many factors relevant to public safety may best be addressed through parole suitability determinations,” she wrote.
CDCR spokeswoman Dana Simas also emphasized that distinction.
“Public safety is one of CDCR’s primary missions. Today’s ruling does not mean that anyone will automatically be released to the community; it means that sex offenders currently serving time for nonviolent offenses will have the opportunity to go before the Board of Parole Hearings under the Proposition 57 nonviolent parole process to be considered for release,” Simas said in an email.
“The parole board will assess their case factors individually, including whether they continue to pose a public safety risk. Today’s ruling will have no impact on the existing exclusion of individuals convicted of violent felony sex offenses from this parole process.”


courthousenews--2020-12-28--Judge Quietly Extends Pretrial Jail Stint for Ghislaine Maxwell

MANHATTAN ( CN ) — Finding that Ghislaine Maxwell poses the same flight risk as when she was arrested , a federal judge refused Monday to let the British socialite out of jail before her trial on charges of assisting Jeffrey Epstein recruit girls and young women for sex .
U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan concluded that none of the information that Maxwell ’ s attorneys presented in support of her latest bid to be released on a $ 28.5 million bail package had a “ material bearing on the court ’ s determination that she poses a flight risk.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein had requested home confinement in New York City in a sealed motion for release on bail from the Metropolitan Detention Center Brooklyn .
“ The court concludes that the government has met its burden of persuasion that the defendant poses a flight risk and that pretrial detention continues to be warranted , ” wrote Nathan , an Obama appointee who first denied Maxwell ’ s bail request after she was arraigned in July .
“ Furthermore , for substantially the same reasons as the court determined that detention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the court again concludes that no conditions of release can reasonably assure the Defendant ’ s appearance at future proceedings , ” the 2-page order states .
Maxwell was charged on a federal indictment over the summer , nearly a year to the day that Epstein was arrested on sex-trafficking charges ultimately scuttled by his jailhouse death in August 2019 .
Announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss , federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York charged Maxwell on six counts related to her alleged involvement with recruiting girls to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with her participation .
Maxwell denies the charges , which if proven carry a possible sentence of 35 years .
“ Ms .
Maxwell has no intention of fleeing , ” her attorney , Mark S. Cohen of New York firm Cohen & Gresser , wrote in her request to be transferred to home confinement awaiting trial .
“ If she did , then under the proposed bail conditions she would lose everything and destroy the family she has been fighting so hard to protect since Epstein ’ s arrest.
” The bail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waivers of her right to contest extradition in both the United Kingdom and France , where she holds citizenship .
Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss asked the court to deny bail , saying in a 36-page memo last week that Maxwell failed to state anything new from the motion she had submitted and denied over the summer .
Like many defendants in her position this year , Maxwell is leaning on the Covid-19 pandemic as a reason to grant bail , stating that her risk of contracting coronavirus is heightened by the daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conducts on her at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn where she has been held in solitary since July .
Maxwell ’ s counsel did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday afternoon .
The Jeffrey Epstein scandal has implicated a number of high-profile and rich individuals — including Prince Andrew and Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz — with having had sex with underage victims at Epstein ’ s private island and other properties .
Epstein did plead guilty in 2008 to procuring a child for prostitution but was given leniency from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleging that the financier had paid underage girls for massages , then molested and raped them , he was arrested again in July 2019 .
Officials ruled his jail cell death the next month a suicide .
Maxwell was arrested last July at a 156-acre rural estate in New Hampshire .
Accompanying her 2-page ruling , Judge Nathan filed an opinion under temporary seal to be made public with redactions later .

Finding that Ghislaine Maxwell poses the same flight risk as when she was arrested, a federal judge refused Monday to let the British socialite out of jail before her trial on charges of assisting Jeffrey Epstein recruit girls and young women for sex.
MANHATTAN (CN) — Finding that Ghislaine Maxwell poses the same flight risk as when she was arrested, a federal judge refused Monday to let the British socialite out of jail before her trial on charges of assisting Jeffrey Epstein recruit girls and young women for sex.
U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan concluded that none of the information that Maxwell’s attorneys presented in support of her latest bid to be released on a $28.5 million bail package had a “material bearing on the court’s determination that she poses a flight risk.”
Earlier this month, the 58-year-old former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein had requested home confinement in New York City in a sealed motion for release on bail from the Metropolitan Detention Center Brooklyn.
"The court concludes that the government has met its burden of persuasion that the defendant poses a flight risk and that pretrial detention continues to be warranted,” wrote Nathan, an Obama appointee who first denied Maxwell’s bail request after she was arraigned in July.
"Furthermore, for substantially the same reasons as the court determined that detention was warranted in the initial bail hearing, the court again concludes that no conditions of release can reasonably assure the Defendant’s appearance at future proceedings," the 2-page order states.
Maxwell was charged on a federal indictment over the summer, nearly a year to the day that Epstein was arrested on sex-trafficking charges ultimately scuttled by his jailhouse death in August 2019.
Announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss, federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York charged Maxwell on six counts related to her alleged involvement with recruiting girls to be sexually abused by Epstein, sometimes with her participation.
Maxwell denies the charges, which if proven carry a possible sentence of 35 years.
“Ms. Maxwell has no intention of fleeing,” her attorney, Mark S. Cohen of New York firm Cohen & Gresser, wrote in her request to be transferred to home confinement awaiting trial. “If she did, then under the proposed bail conditions she would lose everything and destroy the family she has been fighting so hard to protect since Epstein’s arrest.”
The bail request promised that Maxwell would execute irrevocable waivers of her right to contest extradition in both the United Kingdom and France, where she holds citizenship.
Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss asked the court to deny bail, saying in a 36-page memo last week that Maxwell failed to state anything new from the motion she had submitted and denied over the summer.
Like many defendants in her position this year, Maxwell is leaning on the Covid-19 pandemic as a reason to grant bail, stating that her risk of contracting coronavirus is heightened by the daily inspections of her mouth that the government conducts on her at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn where she has been held in solitary since July.
Maxwell’s counsel did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday afternoon.
The Jeffrey Epstein scandal has implicated a number of high-profile and rich individuals — including Prince Andrew and Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz — with having had sex with underage victims at Epstein’s private island and other properties. Epstein did plead guilty in 2008 to procuring a child for prostitution but was given leniency from prosecutors.
After new evidence came forth alleging that the financier had paid underage girls for massages, then molested and raped them, he was arrested again in July 2019. Officials ruled his jail cell death the next month a suicide.
Maxwell was arrested last July at a 156-acre rural estate in New Hampshire.
Accompanying her 2-page ruling, Judge Nathan filed an opinion under temporary seal to be made public with redactions later.


courthousenews--2020-12-28--Biden Blasts Trump Administration for Hindering Transition

( CN ) — In a speech Monday , President-elect Joe Biden accused the Trump administration ’ s national security team of obstructing the transition , meaning his team will have to play catch up once he is sworn in as president Jan. 20 .
“ We ’ ve encountered roadblocks from the political leadership in the DOD and the OMB , ” Biden said , referring to the Department of Defense and the Office of Management and Budget .
“ Right now , we just aren ’ t getting all the information that we need from the outgoing administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s nothing short , in my view , of irresponsibility.
” Biden said many agencies are fully cooperative but the political leadership at the Pentagon — which President Donald Trump purged and installed loyalists immediately after his electoral defeat — is stymying the Biden team ’ s efforts to get up to date information .
“ We need a clear picture of our force posture around the world so we can avoid any confusion or need to play catchup , ” Biden said .
The president-elect also painted a grim picture of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agencies , saying they have been “ hollowed out in terms of personnel , capacity and in morale.
” “ The policy processes have been atrophied or been sidelined , ” he said .
Biden didn ’ t restrict his criticisms to the transition and signaled he is eager to end the “ America First ” policies advocated by Trump .
Biden said the Trump administration ’ s decision to rebuff NATO allies and to undermine processes at the United Nations made Americans less safe .
“ All of it makes it harder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people and to defend our vital interests in a world where threats are constantly evolving and our adversaries are constantly adapting , ” he said .
Biden also signaled his administration will be willing to work with global partners to solve large problems like climate change .
He noted America ’ s contributions to the carbon emissions annually is around 15 % and without cooperation from contributors of the other 85 % , any national policies are likely to be insufficient .
The president-elect once again indicated he will be willing to participate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is more hawkish than his predecessors .
But he said enlisting the help of allies in Asia and around the world are an integral part of such a posture .
“ We are almost 25 % of the global economy on our own , but together with our democratic partners , we more than double our economic leverage , ” Biden said .
“ On any issue that matters to the U.S.-China relationship — from pursuing a foreign policy for the middle class , including a trade and economic agenda that protects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the environment , to ensuring security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region , to championing human rights — we are stronger and more effective when we are flanked by nations that share our vision for the future of our world.
” Biden also talked briefly about vaccinations and the bombing incident in downtown Nashville , Tennessee , that took place over the weekend .
“ This bombing was a reminder of the destructive power of an individual or a small group , ” he said .
“ I know the hearts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nashville as they rebuild and recover from this traumatic event.
” The bombing , which destroyed blocks of Nashville ’ s iconic downtown area , replete with country music venues and famed bars and restaurants , appeared to be the act of a lone 63-year-old man .
Authorities continue to investigate in hopes of finding a motive , and the man appears to have been the only one to die in the blast .
Trump has yet to comment on the incident .
Biden also talked about the need for the federal government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ timeline for Covid-19 vaccination distribution over the coming months .
“ We want to make sure that our administration is poised to make full use of FEMA ’ s domestic reach and capacity in managing our Covid response , ” the president-elect said , referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency which responds to natural disasters .
Biden will speak again Tuesday to discuss the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and is expected to provide more details regarding his vaccination rollout plan .

In a speech Monday, President-elect Joe Biden accused the Trump administration’s national security team of obstructing the transition, meaning his team will have to play catch up once he is sworn in as president Jan. 20.
(CN) — In a speech Monday, President-elect Joe Biden accused the Trump administration’s national security team of obstructing the transition, meaning his team will have to play catch up once he is sworn in as president Jan. 20.
“We've encountered roadblocks from the political leadership in the DOD and the OMB,” Biden said, referring to the Department of Defense and the Office of Management and Budget. “Right now, we just aren't getting all the information that we need from the outgoing administration in key national security areas. It's nothing short, in my view, of irresponsibility."
Biden said many agencies are fully cooperative but the political leadership at the Pentagon — which President Donald Trump purged and installed loyalists immediately after his electoral defeat — is stymying the Biden team’s efforts to get up to date information.
“We need a clear picture of our force posture around the world so we can avoid any confusion or need to play catchup,” Biden said.
The president-elect also painted a grim picture of some of the most important national security agencies, saying they have been “hollowed out in terms of personnel, capacity and in morale.”
“The policy processes have been atrophied or been sidelined,” he said.
Biden didn’t restrict his criticisms to the transition and signaled he is eager to end the “America First” policies advocated by Trump.
Biden said the Trump administration’s decision to rebuff NATO allies and to undermine processes at the United Nations made Americans less safe.
“All of it makes it harder for our government to protect the American people and to defend our vital interests in a world where threats are constantly evolving and our adversaries are constantly adapting,” he said.
Biden also signaled his administration will be willing to work with global partners to solve large problems like climate change. He noted America’s contributions to the carbon emissions annually is around 15% and without cooperation from contributors of the other 85%, any national policies are likely to be insufficient.
The president-elect once again indicated he will be willing to participate in an increasingly bipartisan posture toward China that is more hawkish than his predecessors. But he said enlisting the help of allies in Asia and around the world is an integral part of such a posture.
“We are almost 25% of the global economy on our own, but together with our democratic partners, we more than double our economic leverage,” Biden said. “On any issue that matters to the U.S.-China relationship — from pursuing a foreign policy for the middle class, including a trade and economic agenda that protects American workers, our intellectual property, and the environment, to ensuring security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, to championing human rights — we are stronger and more effective when we are flanked by nations that share our vision for the future of our world.”
Biden also talked briefly about vaccinations and the bombing incident in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, that took place over the weekend.
"This bombing was a reminder of the destructive power of an individual or a small group,” he said. “I know the hearts of all Americans are with the people of Nashville as they rebuild and recover from this traumatic event."
The bombing, which destroyed blocks of Nashville’s iconic downtown area, replete with country music venues and famed bars and restaurants, appeared to be the act of a lone 63-year-old man. Authorities continue to investigate in hopes of finding a motive, and the man appears to have been the only one to die in the blast.
Trump has yet to comment on the incident.
Biden also talked about the need for the federal government to marshal its power to accelerate the timeline for Covid-19 vaccination distribution over the coming months.
“We want to make sure that our administration is poised to make full use of FEMA’s domestic reach and capacity in managing our Covid response,” the president-elect said, referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency which responds to natural disasters.
Biden will speak again Tuesday to discuss the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and is expected to provide more details regarding his vaccination rollout plan.


courthousenews--2020-12-28--A Year After Covid, WHO Says Virus Likely to Become Endemic

( CN ) — Nearly one year since the novel coronavirus first emerged in China , the World Health Organization on Monday said the virus will likely remain with humans for years to come , just like influenza .
In a somber year-end message , experts with the United Nations ’ health agency said the novel coronavirus likely will become endemic even with the advent of vaccines .
They also said humanity needs to prepare for the possibility of an even worse future pandemic .
“ The likely scenario is the virus will become another endemic virus , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergencies chief , during a news briefing at the agency ’ s Geneva headquarters .
The message was delivered nearly one year after Chinese authorities notified the WHO on Dec. 31 , 2019 , about a cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown origin in Wuhan , an industrial city .
By the end of January , with Wuhan under a strict lockdown and residents there falling severely ill and dying , the agency declared the novel coronavirus an international health emergency .
Still , outside of eastern Asian nations with past experiences of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus very seriously .
About a month later , Europe and the United States were caught completely off guard after discovering the virus was spreading quickly within their communities .
Ten months later , the Americas and Europe account for 75 % of the 81.4 million infections detected around the world and about 80 % of the global death toll in a pandemic that has killed about 1.8 million people .
Deaths and new cases remain very high in both the Americas and Europe and there are fears they will spike again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concern is the discovery of new strains of the virus that scientists say are more easily transmitted .
These strains were first found in the United Kingdom and South Africa but are showing up in more countries around the world .
In the past week , there are signs that Europe and the Americas may be getting the virus under better control again after weeks of lockdowns and restrictions .
Data collected by Johns Hopkins University shows deaths and new infections are on a downward trend in both hard-hit regions .
Still , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the pandemic with 14,468 new deaths recorded , the university ’ s data shows .
Between Dec. 21 and Sunday , 71,677 deaths were linked to Covid-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
With the distribution of vaccines speeding up around the world , most recently in Europe since Christmas , Ryan said the coronavirus will become “ a very low-level threat.
” But , he added , “ the existence of a vaccine even at high efficacy is no guarantee of eliminating or eradicating an infectious disease .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be able to get over.
” More worrisome is the risk that humans will be hit with a new disease even worse than that caused by the new coronavirus , he said .
“ It may come as a shock to people : This pandemic has been very severe , it ’ s spread around the planet , but this is not necessarily the big one , ” Ryan said .
“ This virus is very transmissible and it kills people and it has deprived so many people of loved ones , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low in comparison to other emerging diseases .
This is a wakeup call.
” Scientists warn that other new pathogens may be unleashed as the natural world comes under increasing stress due to climate change , deforestation , intensive farming , development and other human activities .
In response , experts say it is crucial to do more to identify and study viruses in nature and develop medicines and vaccines against new potential diseases .
In its final news briefing for 2020 , a year that saw the agency thrust to the forefront @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it coordinated efforts to combat the pandemic , WHO experts said the world had made huge progress in the fight against the coronavirus through medicines , vaccines , treatments and the panoply of measures to avoid infection but said victory remained far off .
“ This virus is telling us we are not prepared , we ’ re still not prepared , ” said Dr. Bruce Aylward , a WHO senior adviser .
“ We ’ re now into second and third waves of this virus and we ’ re still not prepared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said the world is highly vulnerable to new pathogens and more pandemics .
“ Are we prepared for the next one ?
We ’ re not fully prepared for this one , let alone the next one , ” Aylward said .
“ We ’ re prepared for flu better than we were in the past .
We ’ re now better prepared for coronaviruses .
But are we better prepared for the next pandemic ?
We don ’ t know what the next pandemic is , we don ’ t know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would be folly to say that we ’ re fully prepared.
” He added : “ If anything , at the end of 2020 , we should be humbled by the fact that we will always be preparing for these viruses.
” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , the WHO director-general , said the pandemic has underscored the importance of health care and he urged countries to invest much more in public health systems .
“ I think in terms of awareness , we are now getting it , ” Tedros said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centrality of health the hard way.
” Among other things , Tedros wants governments to spend more on public hospitals and clinics , training health workers , setting up better screening systems and providing for universal health care coverage .
“ We have seen the centrality of health during this pandemic when the whole world got ill and when we all became hostage of this virus , ” he said .
“ Going forward , investing in health will be a priority for all countries.
” Courthouse News reporter Cain Burdeau is based @ @ @ @ @

Nearly one year since the novel coronavirus first emerged in China, the World Health Organization on Monday said the virus will likely remain with humans for years to come, just like the influenza virus.
(CN) — Nearly one year since the novel coronavirus first emerged in China, the World Health Organization on Monday said the virus will likely remain with humans for years to come, just like influenza.
In a somber year-end message, experts with the United Nations’ health agency said the novel coronavirus likely will become endemic even with the advent of vaccines. They also said humanity needs to prepare for the possibility of an even worse future pandemic.
“The likely scenario is the virus will become another endemic virus,” said Dr. Mike Ryan, the WHO health emergencies chief, during a news briefing at the agency's Geneva headquarters.
The message was delivered nearly one year after Chinese authorities notified the WHO on Dec. 31, 2019, about a cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown origin in Wuhan, an industrial city. By the end of January, with Wuhan under a strict lockdown and residents there falling severely ill and dying, the agency declared the novel coronavirus an international health emergency.
Still, outside of eastern Asian nations with past experiences of novel virus outbreaks, few countries took the coronavirus very seriously. About a month later, Europe and the United States were caught completely off guard after discovering the virus was spreading quickly within their communities. Ten months later, the Americas and Europe account for 75% of the 81.4 million infections detected around the world and about 80% of the global death toll in a pandemic that has killed about 1.8 million people.
Deaths and new cases remain very high in both the Americas and Europe and there are fears they will spike again following the holiday season. Another major concern is the discovery of new strains of the virus that scientists say are more easily transmitted. These strains were first found in the United Kingdom and South Africa but are showing up in more countries around the world.
In the past week, there are signs that Europe and the Americas may be getting the virus under better control again after weeks of lockdowns and restrictions. Data collected by Johns Hopkins University shows deaths and new infections are on a downward trend in both hard-hit regions. Still, Dec. 22 marked the deadliest day yet in the pandemic with 14,468 new deaths recorded, the university's data shows. Between Dec. 21 and Sunday, 71,677 deaths were linked to Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
With the distribution of vaccines speeding up around the world, most recently in Europe since Christmas, Ryan said the coronavirus will become “a very low-level threat.”
But, he added, “the existence of a vaccine even at high efficacy is no guarantee of eliminating or eradicating an infectious disease. That is a very high bar for us to be able to get over.”
More worrisome is the risk that humans will be hit with a new disease even worse than that caused by the new coronavirus, he said.
“It may come as a shock to people: This pandemic has been very severe, it's spread around the planet, but this is not necessarily the big one,” Ryan said. “This virus is very transmissible and it kills people and it has deprived so many people of loved ones, but its current case fatality is reasonably low in comparison to other emerging diseases. This is a wakeup call.”
Scientists warn that other new pathogens may be unleashed as the natural world comes under increasing stress due to climate change, deforestation, intensive farming, development and other human activities. In response, experts say it is crucial to do more to identify and study viruses in nature and develop medicines and vaccines against new potential diseases.
In its final news briefing for 2020, a year that saw the agency thrust to the forefront of the public's attention as it coordinated efforts to combat the pandemic, WHO experts said the world had made huge progress in the fight against the coronavirus through medicines, vaccines, treatments and the panoply of measures to avoid infection but said victory remained far off.
“This virus is telling us we are not prepared, we're still not prepared,” said Dr. Bruce Aylward, a WHO senior adviser. “We're now into second and third waves of this virus and we're still not prepared to deal with and manage those.”
He said the world is highly vulnerable to new pathogens and more pandemics.
“Are we prepared for the next one? We're not fully prepared for this one, let alone the next one,” Aylward said. “We're prepared for flu better than we were in the past. We're now better prepared for coronaviruses. But are we better prepared for the next pandemic? We don't know what the next pandemic is, we don't know what that next virus is, and it would be folly to say that we're fully prepared.”
He added: “If anything, at the end of 2020, we should be humbled by the fact that we will always be preparing for these viruses.”
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director-general, said the pandemic has underscored the importance of health care and he urged countries to invest much more in public health systems.
“I think in terms of awareness, we are now getting it,” Tedros said. “I think the world is understanding the centrality of health the hard way.”
Among other things, Tedros wants governments to spend more on public hospitals and clinics, training health workers, setting up better screening systems and providing for universal health care coverage.
“We have seen the centrality of health during this pandemic when the whole world got ill and when we all became hostage of this virus,” he said. “Going forward, investing in health will be a priority for all countries.”
Courthouse News reporter Cain Burdeau is based in the European Union.


courthousenews--2020-12-28--Texas Republican Sues to Give Pence Sole Discretion in Deciding Election

( CN ) — Just over a week before Congress meets to formalize Democrat Joe Biden ’ s victory in the November presidential election , a Republican lawmaker from Texas is asking a federal judge to give Vice President Mike Pence the exclusive power to throw out Electoral College votes .
The lawsuit filed in Tyler , Texas , federal court on Sunday by Congressman Louie Gohmert marks the latest in a series of long-shot legal bids from Republicans seeking to overturn Biden ’ s win , cases that have been routinely rejected by the courts .
In the Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arizona Republicans ask the judge to throw out various provisions of federal law governing the Electoral College count and to grant Pence the “ exclusive authority and sole discretion in determining which electoral votes to count for a given state.
” Legal experts , as they have with many other Republican-led election challenges , quickly dismissed the lawsuit ’ s chances .
“ No , this won ’ t work , ” University of California election law scholar Rick Hasen wrote on his popular Election Law Blog .
Under the law , Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ College vote , with the vice president presiding over the typically ceremonial event .
The Constitution gives the House the power to break a tie – a rarity that hasn ’ t happened since the 1800 ’ s , according to the Associated Press – but Gohmert ’ s lawsuit asks the judge to declare that Pence “ must ignore and may not rely on any provisions of the Electoral Count Act that would limit his exclusive authority and his sole discretion to determine the count.
” The White House did not immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lawsuit , but President Trump on Sunday referenced the date of the Electoral College count in a cryptic Twitter post .
“ See you in Washington , DC , on January 6th .
Don ’ t miss it .
Information to follow !
” he wrote .
The brazen push to enable Pence to overturn Biden ’ s win comes after a holiday weekend marked by a lame-duck president still refusing to acknowledge the reality of his loss and continuing to spread baseless conspiracy theories about a stolen election .
The Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dispute still swirling in the courts .
Similar long-shot efforts remain pending in Arizona , the District of Columbia , Pennsylvania and other states , according to a tracker from Ohio State University ’ s Moritz College of Law .
Gohmert is also not the only Republican in Congress still dreaming of a Trump victory .
Politico reported last week that a group of congressional Republicans held an hours-long meeting with Trump at the White House seeking ways to overturn the election .
Edward Foley , a constitutional law scholar at Ohio State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas case likely faces “ procedural obstacles ” to even being heard .
“ For example , whether the plaintiffs have standing to bring this claim , ” he said .
“ But if a court were to reach the merits , it should be quickly rejected as based on a misunderstanding of the Constitution , which was never intended to give a vice president the kind of unilateral authority over the counting of electoral votes that this suit asserts.
” Part of the new Texas lawsuit centers on a false claim that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to override the Electoral College votes of states ’ legitimately appointed electors .
The lawsuit ’ s plaintiffs include some of the Arizona Republicans and Trump supporters who have latched onto the inaccurate claim of an “ alternate ” slate of electors from the state .
Arizona ’ s actual electors certified their votes for Biden in late November .

Just over a week before Congress meets to formalize Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in the November presidential election, a Republican lawmaker from Texas is asking a federal judge to give Vice President Mike Pence the exclusive power to throw out Electoral College votes.
(CN) — Just over a week before Congress meets to formalize Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in the November presidential election, a Republican lawmaker from Texas is asking a federal judge to give Vice President Mike Pence the exclusive power to throw out Electoral College votes.
The lawsuit filed in Tyler, Texas, federal court on Sunday by Congressman Louie Gohmert marks the latest in a series of long-shot legal bids from Republicans seeking to overturn Biden’s win, cases that have been routinely rejected by the courts.
In the Texas case, Gohmert and a group of Arizona Republicans ask the judge to throw out various provisions of federal law governing the Electoral College count and to grant Pence the “exclusive authority and sole discretion in determining which electoral votes to count for a given state.”
Legal experts, as they have with many other Republican-led election challenges, quickly dismissed the lawsuit’s chances.
“No, this won’t work,” University of California election law scholar Rick Hasen wrote on his popular Election Law Blog.
Under the law, Congress meets Jan. 6 to finalize the Electoral College vote, with the vice president presiding over the typically ceremonial event. The Constitution gives the House the power to break a tie – a rarity that hasn’t happened since the 1800’s, according to the Associated Press – but Gohmert’s lawsuit asks the judge to declare that Pence “must ignore and may not rely on any provisions of the Electoral Count Act that would limit his exclusive authority and his sole discretion to determine the count.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit, but President Trump on Sunday referenced the date of the Electoral College count in a cryptic Twitter post.
“See you in Washington, DC, on January 6th. Don’t miss it. Information to follow!” he wrote.
The brazen push to enable Pence to overturn Biden’s win comes after a holiday weekend marked by a lame-duck president still refusing to acknowledge the reality of his loss and continuing to spread baseless conspiracy theories about a stolen election.
The Texas case is far from the only election dispute still swirling in the courts. Similar long-shot efforts remain pending in Arizona, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania and other states, according to a tracker from Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law.
Gohmert is also not the only Republican in Congress still dreaming of a Trump victory. Politico reported last week that a group of congressional Republicans held an hours-long meeting with Trump at the White House seeking ways to overturn the election.
Edward Foley, a constitutional law scholar at Ohio State, said in an email that the Texas case likely faces “procedural obstacles” to even being heard.
“For example, whether the plaintiffs have standing to bring this claim,” he said. “But if a court were to reach the merits, it should be quickly rejected as based on a misunderstanding of the Constitution, which was never intended to give a vice president the kind of unilateral authority over the counting of electoral votes that this suit asserts.”
Part of the new Texas lawsuit centers on a false claim that so-called “shadow electors” could be used to override the Electoral College votes of states’ legitimately appointed electors. The lawsuit’s plaintiffs include some of the Arizona Republicans and Trump supporters who have latched onto the inaccurate claim of an “alternate” slate of electors from the state.
Arizona’s actual electors certified their votes for Biden in late November.