Biden s staff quickly confirmed he would meet with the group, underscoring his interest in negotiating a bipartisan deal. The president and Congressional Democrats, however, have made clear they prefer a fast-acting, larger package.
“With the virus posing a grave threat to the country, and economic conditions grim for so many, the need for action is urgent,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said of a potential deal, noting “the scale of what must be done is large.”
The Republican group, which represents one-fifth of the GOP Senate caucus, spans the ideological spectrum from moderates to ardent conservatives. Some, like senators Susan Collins and Mitt Romney, have been open to criticizing former President Donald Trump while others in the group, including senators Thom Tillis and Todd Young, have been closely associated with the former president.
Teachers push back, churches in court, National Guard: News from around our 50 states From USA TODAY Network and wire reports, USA TODAY
Alabama
Montgomery: The state is getting roughly half as much COVID-19 vaccine as it was expecting based on federal plans announced last year, officials said Friday, meaning it would take more than two years to vaccinate the adult population without improvement. The state has 800 approved vaccination sites and is trying to deliver shots as quickly as it can, but supply issues have been the biggest hindrance to state vaccination efforts, said Dr. Scott Harris, head of the Alabama Department of Public Health. “Every state had the idea that they were going to get much more vaccine than they ultimately got,” he said. “I assume this is related to optimistic projections and the inability of manufacturers to keep up that. … There just wasn’t enough vaccine to go around.” Alabama health officials were expecting to get more th
The Republican-controlled Legislature on Friday took another step in the drive to strip future governors of some of their constitutional authority under emergency declarations, and give lawmakers more control over the declarations.
State Sen. Pat Stefano, R-Bullskin Township, was appointed by Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman to serve as chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee for the 2020-2021 legislative session.
âI am excited for the opportunity to serve as Chairman of this committee,â said Stefano. âPennsylvaniaâs veterans and active military members have fought and continue to fight to protect our freedoms and the American way of life. I hold these brave citizens in the highest of regard, and I look forward to ensuring that a top priority of this committee is to take care of our veterans who have dedicated their lives to serving our country.â
When it comes to cannabis, Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle had a change of heart. During his tenure as a public servant, he preferred keeping marijuana in the DEA’s Schedule I category, alongside drugs that aren t considered safe to use even under medical supervision.
“I was into all of that mindset for many years. I experienced the 60s and 70s and saw the downside of drugs, Daschle tells Benzinga. And I think there was a mentality that the best way to address drug abuse and the challenges we face with drugs generally, not necessarily just cannabis, was to try to dissuade people from using drugs by enforcing the laws. And I think that mentality was very pervasive and it was bipartisan.”