As U.S. Coronavirus Cases Hit 32K, Is Resolve on Economic Stranglehold Cracking?

BY JACK CROWE

March 23, 2020

AS THE NUMBER OF CORONAVIRUS CASES in the U.S. surpassed 32,000 on Sunday — a ten-fold increase from just one week ago — President Trump signaled for the first time that his resolve to maintain a complete stranglehold on the economy may be cracking. "WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF. AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO!" Trump wrote on Twitter minutes before midnight, echoing the "cure is worse than the disease" sentiment that was laid out in a Wall Street Journal editorial last week and which has been increasingly embraced by Fox News commentators and Republican lawmakers alike.

Governors and state health officials continued to implement increasingly tight restrictions on the movements and activities of their citizens over the weekend, with Rhode Island governor Gina Raimondo floating the idea of sealing the state's borders to traffic from neighboring states to prevent infected New York and New Jersey residents from contaminating the Ocean State. Elected officials at the federal level, meanwhile, slowed a massive stimulus package designed to blunt the economic impact of the shutdown. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Sunday evening turned his caucus against a procedural vote that would have fast-tracked the $1.3 trillion package on the grounds that it prioritized the interests of corporations, which would receive some $75 billion under the bill, over workers. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell responded by accusing the Democrats of playing a dangerous "game of chicken" and spooking the markets and "depressing" Americans in the process. When the bill, in whatever form it eventually takes, does come to the floor for a vote, the upper chamber will be short at least five lawmakers, who have self-quarantined after coming in contact with an infected individual. One of those five, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, became the first senator to test positive for the virus on Sunday. A source close to Paul tells National Review that he requested the test despite showing no symptoms due to concerns that he would be particularly vulnerable because he had part of his lung surgically removed following a bizarre assault at the hands of his neighbor.

While Schumer predicted that a compromise on the spending package could be reached as soon as Monday afternoon, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who flew in from California over the weekend, may have other plans. She is now drafting her own bill in concert with her caucus and will present it as a competing vision of the legislation that McConnell, Schumer, Mnuchin and a host of bipartisan working groups have negotiated over the past week. Futures markets, likely spooked by Congress's apparent failure to meet the Monday deadline set last week by Mnuchin, continued to dive Sunday night, falling 5 percent as soon as news broke that the procedural vote failed.

Senate Democrats Block Massive Coronavirus Stimulus Bill

Senate Democrats blocked a massive emergency coronavirus funding package from moving forward Sunday evening on the grounds that the package favored corporations over working Americans.

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer rallied his caucus against a procedural vote that would have fast-tracked the legislation by placing a time limit on debate and forcing the vote. The cloture vote, which requires the support of 60 senators to pass, failed 47-to-47 along partisan lines.

"I think there's a good chance we'll have an agreement. But we don't need artificial deadlines. We will get this done. We will come in at noon and hopefully we will have an agreement by then," Schumer said.

Rand Paul First Senator to Test Positive for Coronavirus

Senator Rand Paul has tested positive for coronavirus, his office announced on Sunday, making him the first U.S. senator to contract the deadly respiratory illness that continues to spread across the country.

The Kentucky Republican has no symptoms but "was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person," read a statement from Paul's Twitter account.

"He is feeling fine and is in quarantine," his office said. "He expects to be back in the Senate after his quarantine period ends and will continue to work for the people of Kentucky at this difficult time."

The statement added that the senator's D.C. office began operating remotely ten days ago, so "virtually no staff" has had contact with the senator, which could put them in danger of infection.

Earlier this month, Paul was the only senator to vote against a bipartisan $8 billion emergency coronavirus funding package that provided free coronavirus testing, paid leave for affected workers, enhanced unemployment insurance, increased food aid, and increased Medicaid funding for states.

Trump Activates National Guard to Assist California, New York, and Washington

President Trump announced Sunday that the federal government would activate the National Guard to help California, New York, and Washington — three of the states hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic — deal with the outbreak.

"The federal government will be funding 100 percent of the cost of deploying national guard units to carry out approved missions to stop the virus while those governors remain in command," Trump said at a White House briefing, adding that he saw the move as a "backup" to the state leaders, who will remain "in command."

"We'll be following them and we hope they can do the job and I think they will. I spoke with all three of the governors today, just a little while ago and they're very happy with what we're going to be doing," the president stated.

PG&E Agrees to Plead Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter for California's Deadliest Wildfire

California electricity provider Pacific Gas & Electric Co. agreed to a plea deal that will see it plead guilty to felony involuntary manslaughter charges for its role in starting the deadliest wildfire in state history.

The company, which disclosed the charges Monday in a regulatory finding, filed for chapter 11 protection last year, after its aging and faulty equipment was blamed for five of the ten most destructive fires in California since 2015.

Ohio issues stay-at-home order for all residents to combat spread of coronavirus

Cleveland.com: "CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Sunday announced a stay-at-home order to continue combating the spread of coronavirus, essentially telling all residents to remain in their houses and apartments most of the time.

Ohio Health Department Director Dr. Amy Acton signed the order, which will go into effect at 11:59 p.m. Monday and remain in effect until April 6. At a news briefing, he said his administration will re-assess at that point."

The Hill: Trump: Ford, GM, Tesla given OK to produce ventilators

President Trump announced Sunday his approval for Ford, General Motors and Tesla to produce desperately needed ventilators during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The president said in a tweet that the auto companies will be permitted to "make ventilators and other metal products, FAST!"

Associated Press: Pompeo in Kabul in effort to revive flagging peace process

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was in Kabul on an urgent visit Monday to try to move forward a U.S. peace deal signed last month with the Taliban, a trip that comes despite the coronavirus pandemic, at a time when world leaders and statesmen are curtailing official travel.

Since the signing of the deal, the peace process has stalled amid political turmoil in Afghanistan, with the country's leaders squabbling over who was elected president.