Weekly Update: 3/13/20
CA
“If the country’s most popular coronavirus model proves accurate, California will reach the peak of its outbreak this Wednesday, on what would have been tax day if the pandemic hadn’t uprooted nearly all of the United States’ social and financial structures” (SF Chronicle).
California's insurance commissioner is ordering insurance companies to give consumers and businesses a break on premiums they paid in March and April and to do the same in May if stay-at-home orders continue….
Some California school districts and teacher unions are still negotiating over distance learning more than a week after Governor Gavin Newsom pushed for a statewide labor and management agreement intended to resolve conflicts and accelerate at-home learning….
Governor Gavin Newsom is warning that is budget proposed in January, before the epidemic worsened, is no longer realistic. He cautioned, "The January budget is no longer operable … The world has radically changed since the January budget was proposed."
President and Administration
The Trump administration has decided to hold off on stricter work requirements for adults without children during the national emergency….
All 50 states are under a major disaster declaration for the first time in U.S. history, after President Trump approved Wyoming’s declaration on Saturday, 4/11…
Parts of the U.S. may be ready in May to ease emergency measures taken against the coronavirus pandemic but there’s no universal “light switch” to flip on, Dr. Anthony Fauci , Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, explained, warning that there’s also the possibility of a COVID-19 rebound in the fall which could be a factor in November’s elections….
Last evening President Trump retweeted a message calling for NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci to be fired. This marks the latest sign of apparent tension between the two men amid the coronavirus pandemic….
A trio of public health and medical professionals making the rounds on the Sunday morning news shows, 4/12, called for President Donald Trump not to defund the World Health Organization as the administration weighs punitive measures on the public health organization….
There are 70 coronavirus vaccines in development globally, with three candidates already in human trials….
The Federal Reserve on Thursday, 4/9, took additional actions to provide up to $2.3 trillion in loans to support the economy….
The Supreme Court is adapting to the threat of the coronavirus by taking the unprecedented step of holding arguments via telephone in some cases originally set to be argued this term….
Congress
On Friday Senate Minority Leader Schumer called for opening negotiations after his conversation with Secretary Mnuchin. "There's no reason why we can't come to a bipartisan agreement by early next week," Schumer said….
On Friday 4/10, Senators Chris Murphy (D-CN) and Mitt Romney (R-UT) introduced legislation that would require President Trump to appoint a global health coordinate and create an inter-agency council charged with preparing for pandemics….
Congress has created a one-time coronavirus rebate payment system in order to help people financially struggling due to unemployment and social distancing restrictions….
Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO), a member of GOP leadership, said that the Senate is “unlikely” to stick to its plans for a late-April return…
House Democrats are laying the groundwork for quick action on FY’21 appropriation bills….
2020 Candidates
Bernie Sanders is suspending his 2020 presidential campaign, ceding the Democratic nomination to Joe Biden after a string of losses last month crippled his campaign….