Jamie Dupree

CDC Chief criticizes American Airlines for selling full flights

6/30/2020

The recent move by American Airlines to end their policy of limiting bookings in order to provide social distancing on flights drew opposition from the head of the Centers for Disease Control on Tuesday, as federal health experts said planes, trains, and buses operating at full capacity won't help stop the spread of the Coronavirus. 'I can tell you that, when they announced that the other day, obviously, there was substantial disappointment with American Airlines,' said CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield at a Senate hearing on the virus. 'We don't think it's the right message.' 'I mean, obviously that is something that is of concern,' chimed in Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government's top infectious disease expert, who said social distancing and masks are two key elements of the fight against the virus. 'I think in the confines of an airplane, that becomes even more problematic,' Fauci added. 'That is unacceptable behavior,' said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said of the American Airlines decision. 'They are endangering the lives of the American people.' The hearing featured renewed warnings from Fauci, Redfield and other health experts about the spread of the virus, as some states have tightened Coronavirus restrictions in recent days amid a surge in cases. 'We're seeing significant increases in the southeast and southwest regions of this nation,' Dr. Redfield told Senators, who said a combination of increased testing, community spread, and localized outbreaks are all driving the increase. 'We recommend a mask for everyone on the outside,' said Dr. Fauci, as he implored Americans of all ages to wear masks when they might come into contact with other people. 'When you're outside and don't have the capability of maintainting distance, you should wear a mask at all times,' Fauci added. The hearing began with a plea from the panel chairman for President Trump to lead the call for masks and face coverings, as an easy way to hold back the virus. 'The President has plenty of admirers,' said Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN). 'They would follow his lead.' But so far, the President has resisted that idea, leaving state and local elected officials to step into that leadership role.

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- June 30, 2020 at 09:50PM
CDC Chief criticizes American Airlines for selling full flights
Click on this headline to read the full story at Jamie Dupree - Washington Insider

While Trump holds back states and cities push masks to fight virus

6/29/2020

With President Donald Trump making it clear that he was not going to lead the nation in urging Americans to wear a mask to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, that vacuum is now being filled by other officials around the nation, in an effort to find some way to stem the recent increase in virus cases. 'Wearing a mask is not only safe, but it is necessary to avoid another shutdown,' Gov. Laura Kelly (D) of Kansas announced on Monday. In Oregon, Gov. Kate Brown (D) expanded a mask requirement in public and indoor areas of businesses from eight counties to the entire state. 'The choices every single one of us make in the coming days matter,' Brown said, as Oregon and Kansas joined North Carolina in instituting a statewide mask requirement. Back on Capitol Hill, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell drove home the same request, saying on the Senate floor that Americans should wear a mask as a way to help businesses stay open. 'Wearing simple face coverings is not about protecting ourselves, it is about protecting everyone we encounter,' McConnell said forcefully. McConnell's very public declaration in the halls of Congress left him at odds with Republicans in the House, many of whom have publicly clashed with Democrats about the need to wear masks at hearings, and on the floor of the House. Last week, Democrats sparred with Republicans at times about the lack of a mask, with one saying Monday that GOP lawmakers would be barred from hearings in the future, if they chose not to show up with a mask. 'I will not recognize any Member of this Subcommittee to participate in person in any Subcommittee meeting or hearing unless the Member is wearing a mask and strictly adheres to the Attending Physician’s guidance,' said Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC). At the White House, the reaction to a decision by the city of Jacksonville to require masks indoors - where President Trump will accept the GOP nomination at an indoor arena in August - drew a muted response. 'He did say to me, he has no problem with masks, and do whatever your local jurisdiction requests of you,' said White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany. The decision of the city of Jacksonville to require masks was ironic, given that President Trump had sought out a new location for his speech, after the Governor of North Carolina had refused to guarantee the GOP convention could go on with a minimum of Coronavirus restrictions in place. Through the day on Monday, news from various cities, towns and counties around the nation filtered in with decisions to enact mask requirements - in Florida, South Carolina, and other states. 'If we want to keep businesses open, we need a statewide mask requirement,' Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-SC) said, as Democrats pressed reluctant GOP Governors. While Republican Governors were shying away from a statewide mask requirement - some were openly pushing their state's residents to embrace the idea. 'I’m certainly not imposing new restrictions right now,' Gov. Brian Kemp (R-Georgia) said in recent days. 'We’ve got to continue to fight the fight hard everyday.

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- June 29, 2020 at 08:50PM
While Trump holds back, states and cities push masks to fight virus
Click on this headline to read the full story at Jamie Dupree - Washington Insider

Roberts sides with Supreme Court liberals on abortion case

6/29/2020

In a surprise decision from the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, Chief Justice John Roberts provided the pivotal fifth vote to strike down a Louisiana law targeting abortion clinic providers, arguing that the Justices should not overturn a decision made on a similar law back in 2016. 'The legal doctrine of stare decisis requires us, absent special circumstances, to treat like cases alike,' Roberts wrote, referring to the Texas case from four years ago. 'The Louisiana law imposes a burden on access to abortion just as severe as that imposed by the Texas law, for the same reasons,' Roberts wrote. But in 2016, the Chief Justice voted to uphold that Texas law, as this time Roberts quoted Black's Law Dictionary from 1696 on stare decisis. 'It has long been “an established rule to abide by former precedents, where the same points come again in litigation; as well to keep the scale of justice even and steady, and not liable to waver with every new judge’s opinion,' Roberts quoted. Still, Roberts seemed to leave the door open to other abortion challenges. Like a Texas case from 2016, the Louisiana law required abortion providers to have admission privileges at hospitals near their clinics. It was another example of Roberts seemingly now taking on the role which had long been occupied by former Justice Anthony Kennedy - the centrist vote between two battling factions of four conservative and four liberal justices. In recent weeks, Roberts has provided the fifth vote to stop the Trump Administration from ending the DACA program, to extend anti-discrimination protections to LGBTQ workers, and to allow states to limit church services because the Coronavirus outbreak. 'We are winning these cases by the skin of our teeth and because Roberts fears for the Court's legitimacy with the public,' said Brian Fallon, who leads a progressive group demanding change on the Supreme Court. The latest decision from Roberts prompted immediate grumbling among conservative Republicans. 'What’s next, Chief Justice Roberts? Our Second Amendment rights?' tweeted Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH). But while Democrats celebrated the unlikely victory today, they also reminded their voters of the importance of the upcoming election. 'Another reason 2020 will be the most important election of our lifetimes,' said Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-SC).

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- June 29, 2020 at 08:50PM
Roberts sides with Supreme Court liberals on abortion case
Click on this headline to read the full story at Jamie Dupree - Washington Insider

Pence on virus: 'About two weeks ago something changed'

6/28/2020

With a continuing surge in Coronavirus cases hitting the south and southwest, Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday vowed federal help for states seeing an increase in cases, as Pence also urged Americans to wear a mask if local leaders have advised that step. 'About two weeks ago, something changed,' Pence said during a news conference with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who last week ended efforts to relax Coronavirus restrictions, shutting down bars immediately in a bid to stop the spree of new cases. 'We need to understand that COVID-19 has taken a very swift and very dangerous turn in Texas over just the past few weeks,' the Governor said. Texas reported 5,357 new cases of the virus on Sunday, marking the sixth consecutive day of more than 5,000 daily new cases. 'This is a moment where we have we have to put our arms around and protect the most vulnerable among us,' the Vice President said of the virus outbreak. It was a marked change for both Pence and Abbott, who had trumpeted progress made by Texas and other states in re-opening. 'You flattened the curve here in Texas,' Pence said, but that has changed as new cases have gone from a 7-day average of 1,273 on June 1 to a 7-day average of nearly 5,800 cases a day by this weekend. Pence arrived with a notable change, as he wore a mask by descending the steps of Air Force Two, and then kept it on through his day in Texas. 'Wearing a mask is just a good idea,' said the Vice President, who on Friday had not joined in wearing a mask during a news conference with federal health experts in Washington, D.C. 'Wear a mask, wherever it's indicated,' Pence added. On his visit in Texas, Pence went to a large indoor church service - where some people were wearing a mask - but not members of a large church choir, who sang during the services. Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control detailed how a church choir practice had become a superspreading event for the Coronavirus, as a 2.5 hour practice attended by 61 people resulted in two virus deaths. But when the CDC issued guidelines for church choirs, a CDC warning about church choirs was removed.

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- June 28, 2020 at 07:50PM
Pence on virus: 'About two weeks ago, something changed'
Click on this headline to read the full story at Jamie Dupree - Washington Insider

Feds appeal to young people to help stem virus spread

6/26/2020

With fresh evidence that the Coronavirus is spreading more quickly in the south and southwest, Vice President Mike Pence on Friday led a plea by top federal health experts to younger Americans, urging them to restrict their social activity in a bid to slow new virus outbreaks in a number of states. 'There are 16 states with rising cases and rising percentages,' Pence told reporters after a meeting of the White House Coronavirus task force, as officials waved red flags about California, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Nevada and Utah. 'Younger Americans have a particular responsibility to make sure that they're not carrying the Coronavirus into settings where they would expose the most vulnerable,' Pence added. On one hand, Pence saluted work on the virus as 'remarkable,' while at the same time issuing a direct plea to young Americans to slow their social activities. 'One of things that we're seeing among the case - we hear this in Florida and we hear this in Texas and elsewhere - is that roughly half of the new cases are of Americans under the age of 35,' the Vice President said. 'We are all in it together, and the only way we are going to end it is by ending it together,' said Dr. Anthony Fauci, as he implored younger Americans to restrain their social activities. At the briefing, Fauci described the difficulty in tracing the Coronavirus, because so often it is transmitted by people who have no idea they are carrying it. “Because the chances are if you get infected, you are going to infect someone else,” Fauci explained. Fauci said he fully understands the desire of young people to go socialize at parties and bars, but the nation's top infectious disease expert said that's only spreading the disease further, and endangering those with health troubles. 'If you get infected, you are part - innocently or inadvertently - of propagating the dynamic process of a pandemic,' Fauci said. While issuing a fresh warning about the virus, Pence also made clear that the U.S. should be better prepared for any new surge of patients in hospitals, simply because of the experience gained earlier this year. 'Where 2 months ago we were seeing some 15 percent of new cases being hospitalized, now that is averaging roughly 5 percent,' Pence said. “Hospitalization remains very, very broadly available.” Reporters also pressed the Vice President for seemingly sending different messages - that people should hold back on their activities in public, but that it was okay for the Trump Campaign to hold large gatherings in recent days in Arizona and Oklahoma. The briefing from Pence and top federal health experts came as Governors in Florida, Texas, and other states paused the lifting of virus restrictions. Pence indicated everything had been trending in the right direction - until just the last two weeks.

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- June 26, 2020 at 05:50PM
Feds appeal to young people to help stem virus spread
Click on this headline to read the full story at Jamie Dupree - Washington Insider

As new cases soar Biden hits Trump on virus response

6/26/2020

With new cases of the Coronavirus hitting a record mark in the United States for a second straight day, former Vice President Joe Biden took direct aim at how President Donald Trump has handled the virus outbreak. 'He's like a child who can't believe this has happened to him,' Biden said in a speech in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. 'All his whining and self pity.' 'He thinks that finding out that more Americans are sick will make him look bad,' Biden added. 'He's worried about looking bad.' Urging Americans to wear a mask in order to help the nation stem the spread of the virus, Biden said a public health solution was where the President should focus his efforts. 'Amazingly, he still hasn't grasped the most basic fact of this crisis,' Biden argued to his audience. 'To fix the economy, we have to get control over the virus.' For Biden it was yet another small step on the campaign trail in southeastern Pennsylvania, not far from his home in Wilmington, Delaware, as the presumptive Democratic nominee has not held a rally since March 9 in Detroit. Noting the refusal of President Trump to wear a mask, Biden said the President has abdicated the role of national leader during this pandemic. 'So, it's up to us - all of us,' Biden said. 'We're going to have to wear a mask.' While Biden criticized the President, Vice President Mike Pence was in Ohio - a critical battleground state in November - making the opposite argument on the virus response. 'Every step of the way President Trump exercised the kind of leadership that every American would want - decisive action,' Pence said. But soon after the Pence speech, the Governor of Ohio signaled concern about the virus spread in his state. 'We have increased testing, but we do not believe this increase in cases is completely due to testing,' Gov. Mike DeWine (R) said. 'Hospitalizations are also up.' But the biggest problems for a GOP Governor seemed to be in Texas, where Gov. Greg Abbott paused new plans to re-open businesses shuttered by the virus. Texas had 5,996 new cases on Thursday, as the total daily number in the U.S. broke 38,000 for a second consecutive day - but the number of deaths from the virus continues to decline. 630 deaths were reported on Thursday, as the 7-day average of deaths dropped to 561 deaths per day. A month ago, that average was 1,100 deaths per day.

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- June 26, 2020 at 05:50PM
As new cases soar, Biden hits Trump on virus response
Click on this headline to read the full story at Jamie Dupree - Washington Insider

Feds sent out $1.4 billion in stimulus checks to dead people

6/25/2020

A new report out Thursday from the Government Accountability Office raised questions about how the Trump Administration sent out economic stimulus checks to help people deal with the Coronavirus, as investigators found the IRS sent out 1.1 million payments to dead taxpayers. 'The American people deserve to know whether those funds are being misused,' said Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY). The GAO report found Internal Revenue Service officials decided they did not have the proper authorization to crosscheck the stimulus check list with the updated Social Security death list. 'According to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, as of April 30, almost 1.1 million payments totaling nearly $1.4 billion had gone to decedents,' the report noted. 'On May 6, 2020, IRS announced on its website that if a payment was issued to a decedent or incarcerated individual, the total amount should be returned,' the report noted. 'However, IRS does not currently plan to take additional steps to notify ineligible recipients on how to return payments,' the GAO stated. You can read the full report about federal Coronavirus aid from the GAO.

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- June 25, 2020 at 04:50PM
Feds sent out $1.4 billion in stimulus checks to dead people
Click on this headline to read the full story at Jamie Dupree - Washington Insider

U.S. sets record high mark for new Coronavirus cases

6/25/2020

A day after Dr. Anthony Fauci told Congress that he was worried by what he described as a 'disturbing surge' of new Coronavirus cases nationwide, the U.S. set a record for the most new virus cases in one day with over 38,000, as three states hit hard by the initial virus outbreak moved to place travel restrictions on people from states with high infection rates. During a television interview on Wednesday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbot characterized the jump in cases as a 'massive outbreak,' as he raised the possibility of renewed restrictions on activities in the Lone Star State. Texas reported 4,389 hospitalizations for the virus, up almost 300 from a record high on Tuesday. 'We're heading in the wrong direction,' said Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D), whose state suffered earlier this year, but has seen a rebound in cases in recent weeks. California led the renewed surge of virus cases with 7,149 reported on Wednesday, a one day record. Texas also had a new record at 5,551 cases. And Florida also set a state mark with 5,511 new cases. Meanwhile, the Governors of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut banded together to require a 14-day self quarantine by people who travel into their states from places like Florida, Texas, and the Carolinas. 'We have a very real problem right now where many states are experiencing an increased spread of COVID-19 virus, just as New York is seeing the lowest infection rate,' Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) said. The move was somewhat ironic, given that Florida had imposed the same kind of self-quarantine requirement on visitors from those states three months earlier, when New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut were seeing elevated cases and deaths. Democrats also appealed to GOP Governors to require their citizens to wear masks in public, in order to stem the spread of the virus. “We need a national COVID-19 testing strategy,” said Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), as Democrats criticized the White House for downplaying the threat of the virus. “Every few days we are seeing another new record in FL COVID-19 cases. This is not a coincidence, it’s a trend,” said Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL). President Trump has repeatedly asserted that the jump in virus cases is directly related to increased testing - but figures from the states show a rising rate of positive tests, which is an indication that the virus is spreading faster.

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- June 25, 2020 at 04:50PM
U.S. sets record high mark for new Coronavirus cases
Click on this headline to read the full story at Jamie Dupree - Washington Insider

Democrats decide to hold mainly 'virtual' 2020 convention

6/25/2020

Amid ongoing concerns about the Coronavirus, national Democrats announced on Wednesday that they would scrap plans for a normal nominating convention in Milwaukee, as while Joe Biden will go there to accept his party's nomination, state delegations were being told not to plan any travel. 'Unlike this President, Joe Biden and Democrats are committed to protecting the health and safety of the American people,' said Democratic party chief Tom Perez. Democrats had already delayed their planned convention in Milwaukee by a month, from mid-July to mid-August. In their announcement on Wednesday, party leaders said the convention would be 'anchored' in Milwaukee, but would also take place virtually from a number of sites in other states as well. “The city of Milwaukee has been an incredible partner and we are committed to highlighting Wisconsin as a key battleground state at our convention this August,' said Jen O'Malley Dillon, Biden's Campaign Manager. The announcement came a day before President Donald Trump was scheduled to visit Milwaukee; recent polls have shown Biden leading in the state. Republicans have also changed their convention schedule because of the Coronavirus - it will start in Charlotte, North Carolina but end in Jacksonville, Florida. That decision came after the Governor of North Carolina could not assure President Trump that the convention could go on without Coronavirus restrictions.

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- June 25, 2020 at 04:50PM
Democrats decide to hold mainly 'virtual' 2020 convention
Click on this headline to read the full story at Jamie Dupree - Washington Insider

Democrats block start of Senate debate on police reform

6/24/2020

Unhappy with the details of a GOP proposal on police reform and accountability, Democrats on Wednesday blocked the Senate from even starting debate on the Senate floor on the issue, drawing sharp rebukes from Republican Senators. 'This is an opportunity to say yes,' said Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), the author of the GOP police plan, as he implored Democrats to just begin debate on a variety of issues. 'If you don't think we're right, make it better,' Scott said to Democrats. 'Don't walk away.' 60 votes were needed to force a start of the debate. The Senate vote was 55-45. 'As recently as last week, leading Democrats called it a life or death issue for the Senate to take up this subject, this month,' said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. 'Well - here we are,' McConnell added. But most Democrats voted against ending debate on a motion to start the debate - leaving the GOP police reform bill in limbo. Only Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) voted with Republicans. Independent Senator Angus King (I-ME) also voted to start debate. Democrats argued the GOP bill was too weak on police reforms and accountability changes, as they demanded negotiations to toughen the provisions. 'The Senate GOP bill creates commissions to study what we already know is a reality for Black Americans,' said Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE). 'It fails to meet the moment.' 'It couldn’t be more clear that the Republicans’ attempt to pass their watered-down policing bill is meant to derail meaningful reform,' said Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA). 'The GOP policing reform bill fails across the board,' said Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ). 'It's a non-starter.' It wasn't immediately clear what would be next, as the House is scheduled to vote on Thursday on a police reform bill backed by Democrats. Republicans noted that without any action by the full Senate, that reform bill from House Democrats would go nowhere, and nothing would be accomplished on police reform. 'A pox on all of us if we let that happen,' said Sen. David Perdue (R-GA).

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- June 24, 2020 at 03:50PM
Democrats block start of Senate debate on police reform
Click on this headline to read the full story at Jamie Dupree - Washington Insider