Month: September 2020

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have reached a bipartisan deal to keep the government funded through early December and avoid a shutdown just before the election. Pelosi hailed the short-term spending legislation — known as a “continuing resolution,” or CR – in a statement on Tuesday, in which she pointed to $8 billion in increased spending on food-assistance programs that she secured, in exchange for agreeing to renewing funding for a farm bailout program strongly supported by Republicans.]

The legislation extends government funding through Dec. 11, and could come to the Senate floor later this week. Congress needs to pass a spending bill by Sept. 30 or large portions of the government would begin to shut down. The bill also must be signed by President Trump ahead of the shutdown deadline.

House GOP and Dems reach agreement to avoid shutdown, Pelosi says

Via www.cbsnews.com

The House is expected to vote on the continuing resolution Monday night to avoid a government…

09/22/2020 7:44 PM

 

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Officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) continued to modify the agency’s guidelines on COVID-19. On Monday, the CDC abruptly pulled down a days-old change suggesting that the virus can spread from person to person among those greater than 6 feet apart, particularly indoors. 

The agency’s guidance has long said that respiratory droplets, emitted from the nose and mouth of an infected person, “are the main way the virus spreads.” In an update posted Friday, the CDC said these microscopic particles could travel distances greater than 6 feet, particularly in poorly ventilated indoor spaces, like “restaurants and fitness classes.” That language, however, was removed late Monday morning. 

The CDC said in a statement posted on the guidelines home page:  “A draft version of proposed changes to these recommendations was posted in error to the agency’s official website. CDC is currently updating its recommendations regarding airborne transmission of [COVID-19 and] once this process has been completed, the update language will be posted.”

CDC abruptly removes new guidance on coronavirus airborne transmission

Via abcnews.go.com

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday abruptly removed new guidance that the…

09/21/2020 7:38 PM

 

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On Monday, the Justice Department labeled New York City, Portland, Ore., and Seattle as “anarchist jurisdictions” to be evaluated for possible cuts in federal funding for failing to rein in “violent” anti-racism protests.

U.S. Attorney General William Barr said in a statement that an executive order from President Donald Trump this month threatens to withhold federal funding from cities where local officials have cut police department funding or have refused to accept federal forces.

Barr cited rising gun violence in New York, cuts to the city’s police budget and other criteria for justifying its designation as an “anarchist jurisdiction.”  Barr said that Portland endured “100 consecutive nights of protests marred by vandalism, chaos, and even killing,” and Seattle’s was cited for “[permitting] anarchists and activists to seize six square blocks of the city’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.”

The ‘anarchist’ designations mean all federal agency heads must submit reports to the Office of Management and Budget detailing all funding in those cities for review and possible cuts.

Justice Dept. deems New York City, Portland and Seattle ‘anarchist jurisdictions’

Via www.nbcnews.com

09/21/2020 10:40 AM

 

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The U.S. Supreme Court said that flags on court’s front plaza will be flown at half-staff for 30 days in honor of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday.  The Court added that a black drape has been hung over the doors to the courtroom.

In a statement on Sunday, the court said Ginsburg’s bench chair and the bench directly in front of it have also been draped in black wool crepe as part of the tradition for the death of a sitting justice. Visitors to the Supreme Court have left flowers and signs in tribute to Ginsburg. Ginsburg was on the Supreme Court since 1993.

Supreme Court Mourns Justice Ginsburg

Via www.npr.org

Her chair on the U.S. Supreme Court bench and the bench directly in front of it have been draped…

09/20/2020 6:42 PM

 

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On Sunday, democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden urged Senate Republicans not to vote on any candidate nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court as the November election draws closer. Biden’s speech came one day after second Senate Republican voiced objections to Trump’s plan for a quick vote on a replacement for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who passed away on Friday. Such an appointment by the president, if approved by the Senate, would cement a 6-3 conservative majority that could influence American law.

Biden called President Donald Trump’s plan an “exercise of raw political power,” and added, “voters of this country should be heard … they’re the ones who this Constitution envisions should decide who has the power to make this appointment.” Biden said that if he wins the Nov. 3 election, he should have the chance to nominate the next Supreme Court justice.

The former vice president rejected the idea of releasing the names of potential nominees, saying that doing so, as Trump did, could improperly influence those candidates’ decisions in their current court roles as well as subject them to “unrelenting political attacks.”

Trump said on Saturday he would make his nomination this week and named Amy Coney Barrett of the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and Barbara Lagoa of the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit as possible candidates to fill the vacancy created by Ginsburg, a revered figure among liberals.

‘Constitutional abuse’: Biden challenges Senate Republicans in blistering Supreme Court speech

Via www.nbcnews.com

Biden said he was targeting Republicans “who know deep down what is right for the country and…

09/20/2020 4:00 PM

 

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