REPUBLICANS PUSHED CORPORATE INTERESTS FIRST IN RELIEF PACKAGE. The original proposal that Republicans in the Senate put forward for the ‘phase 3’ relief package — unsurprisingly — was another corporate giveaway that lacked sufficient rules to prevent giant corporations from abusing federal aid by buying back stocks, raising CEO pay, or firing their employees while shortchanging workers, hospitals, state and local governments, and more. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell held repeated show votes on their plan while Senate Democrats were negotiating with the White House to improve this massive relief package.
Democrats fought hard to put the priority where it belongs: expanding unemployment insurance, increasing money for hospitals and health care providers, improving small business relief programs, and putting real oversight measures in place. There is a lot more work to do and Democrats will continue to ensure the American people — not corporate special interests – are put first.
REPUBLICANS WILL HAVE TO ANSWER FOR TRUMP FAILURE TO HEED INTELLIGENCE WARNINGS, SUFFICIENTLY PREPARE FOR CORONAVIRUS. As the consequences crush our public health system and our economy, every Senate Republican will have to answer for the Trump administration’s failure to heed repeated ‘ominous, classified’ intelligence warnings about the threat of the coronavirus throughout January and February and adequately respond. There’s a reason why the United States was not adequately ready to stop this pandemic threat: Republicans in Washington gutted preparedness efforts to respond to outbreaks like this, then dismissed the alarm bells, downplayed the risks to the public, and now refuse to hold the president accountable.
Key stories this past week:
LOEFFLER’S SHADY STOCK TRADES PROMPT SEC WARNING, ROILS SENATE RACE. After news broke last week of unelected “political mega-donor” Senator Kelly Loeffler and her husband, CEO of the New York Stock Exchange, dumping millions in stocks and buying shares in a teleworking software company after a private Senate briefing on the crisis in January, the Securities and Exchange Commission “issued a sharp warning” against trading on non-public information related to the coronavirus pandemic. In a recent poll, a majority of voters in both parties believed that senators who sold stocks after the coronavirus briefing should resign.
Loeffler’s stock trades “could cause trouble for Republicans” in Georgia and escalate the intraparty fight between Loeffler and Trump ally Congressman Doug Collins, with her wealth now “suddenly looking like a serious liability for her and the GOP.” Washington Republicans fear the scandal could “cause the party to lose the Senate seat in a special election in November” as McConnell-aligned Super PAC Senate Leadership Fund “is prioritizing spending on other key races” and Club For Growth “signaled…that it could hold off on making further investments.”
Read more about Loeffler’s shady stock transactions:
ACA TURNS 10 = DECADE OF GOP TRYING TO REPEAL HEALTH CARE. The Affordable Care Act turned 10 years old this week, marking a full decade of Republican efforts to overturn the new health care reform that guarantees coverage protections for 52 million Americans with a pre-existing condition. Their opposition to the popular law has cost them support with voters, who in poll after poll do not trust Republicans on health care issues.
ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY: ONE YEAR SINCE “STUNNING ESCALATION” OF GOP LAWSUIT TO END PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS PROTECTIONS. This week also marked the one-year anniversary of the Trump administration’s escalation of the legal fight against protections for people with pre-existing conditions. In the middle of a public health crisis, Trump doubled down on supporting this disastrous GOP lawsuit that aims to overturn the entire health care law, including removing protections for millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions. Trump confirmed again that he still wants to “terminate” the Affordable Care Act as Republicans push forward with their lawsuit that will now be heard by the Supreme Court.
NEW POLL: NORTH CAROLINIANS READY TO WASH THEIR HANDS OF TILLIS. A new poll released from PPP shows Senator Thom Tillis still “isn’t in very good standing with North Carolinians” with an approval rating of just 26%, compared to 47% who disapprove. When it comes to health care, Tillis’ approval is even lower: 24% approve / 48% disapprove. The poll also shows that a whopping 76% of voters have “very serious concerns” about Tillis’ position that restaurants should not be required to make employees wash their hands on the job — including 77% of independents and 66% of Republicans. No wonder Mitch McConnell’s super PAC has booked a $22 million rescue mission for Tillis — nearly one-third of their initial fall TV ad reservation. Read the full poll results here.
IN THE STATES
CO – Colorado Politics: HICKENLOOPER | ‘I look at things from a small business perspective’
GA – Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia Senate: Andrew Young backs Raphael Warnock
IA – Iowa Starting Line: New Spending Shows GOP Worried About Joni Ernst’s Race
ME – News Central Maine (Letter to the Editor): Gideon a leader who will fight
MI – WZZM 13: Sen. Peters announces proposal that would ensure medical supplies availability during pandemic
MT – Bozeman Daily Chronicle (Letter to the Editor): Bullock, not Daines, will provide real leadership
NH – WMUR: NH to receive minimum of $1.25 billion from federal coronavirus relief fund, Shaheen’s office says
TX – PolitiFact Texas: Checking Cornyn on Chinese culture and coronavirus — “Cornyn’s statement is not accurate. We rate this claim False.”
TWEET OF THE WEEK
Lauren Passalacqua
Stewart Boss
Helen Kalla
Regina Anderson
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