Trump Must Veto Bailouts for States That Suspend Our Liberty

We already know that both parties will continue bankrupting us and trillions will turn into quadrillions. But with Republicans in charge of the veto pen and the Senate, when they inevitably throw endless cash at the states, they must enforce the Constitution through that funding and prohibit the infringement of our constitutional rights.

Trump should pre-emptively draw a line in the sand by threatening to veto any state funding bill that does not contain the following provisions:

Ban on coronavirus fascism: While states have the latitude to engage in dumb policies of closing public beaches and parks, they do not have the power to infringe upon individual rights, such as freedom of movement and freedom to open a business. Any bailout funding must condition the funding on the permanent suspension of any ill-gotten powers of governors and county officials to categorically shut down businesses and churches without due process and restrict movement of individuals driving or walking. These are core liberties protected by the Bill of Rights and enforced against the states by Congress under Section 5 of the 14th

Ban on contact tracing outside nursing homes: We don’t need a police state to contact-trace every American after this virus has already spread to millions of people. Condition any funding to the prohibition of contact tracing outside of nursing home settings.

Ban the use of drones to spy on people: No funding shall be used by state or local law enforcement to use spy drones to enforce coronavirus fascism. If there is a “right to privacy” to kill one’s baby, as the Supreme Court ruled, then there is a right to privacy to live in your home or walk the street without being spied on by government.

No bailouts, only reparations: Under the first round of bailout funding, the federal government threw so much money at the states that they don’t even know what to do with it. They are not limiting the expenditures to those who were forcibly shut down. In my county of Baltimore, even middle- and upper-income families are getting three meals a day free for their children. This is ridiculous and is inducing a worse form of dependency than what Republicans decried under the Obama stimulus. Remember, Larry Hogan, as chairman of the National Governors’ Association, is the one demanding $500 billion for the states and spending it on free food and failing to secure nursing homes. Funding should be narrowly tailored just to those businesses and individuals who lost their livelihood thanks to government decisions. This should be a reparations bill under the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment, not a welfare bill. The remainder of the funding should go toward testing and resources for nursing homes where the crisis has hit hardest.

No release of criminals: No state receiving funding can release criminals from prison under the guise of coronavirus. It has now been proven that to the extent there are outbreaks in prisons, they have already spread far and wide. The good news is that nearly all of them have been asymptomatic and the death rate is remarkably low in this predominantly young population. As such, there is no excuse for endangering public safety by prisoner release. In fact, it is a greater epidemiological concern to release people who are younger and already largely immune into the broader population where they could infect a more vulnerable population. Yes, states have full power over state criminal justice decisions, but they are not entitled to federal funding.

Ban judges from releasing illegal aliens: This does not pertain to state governments but must be addressed in the next coronavirus legislation. Federal judges have used similarly faulty science that states are using with domestic criminals to release foreign criminals in ICE’s custody. So far, 192 illegal aliens have been released, most of whom have been convicted of other crimes, including murder, rape, and child molestation. Trump must demand a provision reiterating current law, which removed the jurisdiction of courts to hear these cases and ordering the removal of all those in ICE’s custody back to their home countries. Again, just one individual of 30,000 in custody has possibly died of the virus, and he was very sick.

No funding for illegal aliens: States like California are now handing out checks to illegal aliens as part of the coronavirus “stimulus.” Trump must make it clear that no federal funds can be used for illegal aliens and that sanctuary cities cannot get funding.

Nancy Pelosi is already drafting a $750 billion bailout for the states. Until now, Trump and Senate Republicans have gone along with nearly every radical piece of legislation proposed by Nancy Pelosi. On the most consequential and overarching issue of our time, there is barely a difference between the parties. It’s time for Trump to finally stand up for our liberty, and the clamor of states for more federal funding is the perfect opportunity. (For more from the author of “Trump Must Veto Bailouts for States That Suspend Our Liberty” please click HERE)

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Obama Pardoned a Former General Who Lied to the FBI

In a leaked phone conversation recording with former members of his administration released last week, Barack Obama claimed that the “rule of law is at risk” because of the “unprecedented” move by the Justice Department to drop charges against Michael Flynn, who was the victim of a perjury trap set up by officials in the FBI. Flynn was coerced into pleading guilty to lying to FBI officials.

“The news over the last 24 hours I think has been somewhat downplayed — about the Justice Department dropping charges against Michael Flynn,” Obama said. “And the fact that there is no precedent that anybody can find for someone who has been charged with perjury just getting off scot-free. That’s the kind of stuff where you begin to get worried that basic — not just institutional norms — but our basic understanding of rule of law is at risk. And when you start moving in those directions, it can accelerate pretty quickly as we’ve seen in other places.”

But, in 2017, just days before leaving office, Barack Obama pardoned retired Marine Corps general James E. Cartwright, who pleaded guilty to charges of lying to the FBI.

Cartwright served as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Obama, and was “a key member of Mr. Obama’s national security team in his first term and earned a reputation as the president’s favorite general,” according to the New York Times. Cartwright had leaked classified information regarding Iran’s nuclear program to the media and lied to FBI officials investigating those leaks. He faced up to two years in prison before Obama pardoned him. (Read more from “Obama Pardoned a Former General Who Lied to the FBI” HERE)

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Elon Musk Restarts Tesla Plant in Defiance of Lockdown, Says He’ll ‘Be on the Line With Everyone Else’

Billionaire Elon Musk announced Monday that Tesla would resume production in Alameda County, California, in defiance of local orders dictating a continued lockdown on manufacturing over coronavirus concerns.

The entrepreneur, who has been in a feud with officials for trying to keep Tesla shut down, said he would be joining the production line himself and told authorities, “If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me.” . . .

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom lifted some restrictions of his statewide lockdown to allow for retail and manufacturing to resume on Friday. But Alameda County, where Tesla’s headquarters is located, continued its lockdown and its health officer reportedly told Tesla it could not reopen on Friday as Musk had planned. . .

Musk noted that the state had already given the green light for manufacturing to resume, “but an unelected official illegally overrode.” He added, “All other auto companies in US are approved to resume. Only Tesla has been singled out. This is super messed up!”

(Read more from “Elon Musk Restarts Tesla Plant in Defiance of Lockdown, Says He’ll ‘Be on the Line With Everyone Else'” HERE)

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Michigan Judge Sides With Barber, Rejects Governor’s Demand to Close Shop; Sheriff Won’t Enforce Stay-At-Home Order

By Breitbart. A Michigan judge has denied a motion made by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration that an Owosso barber close up shop during the coronavirus outbreak.

Great Lakes News was outside Karl Manke’s Barber & Beauty Shop on Monday when the ruling came down.

Reporter Katie Heid said the judge denied the state’s claim that the 77-year-old Manke to close his shop because he was allegedly in violation of Whitmer’s stay-at-home order.

“This is not only a big victory for Mr. Manke, but also for other small businesses,” she said. (Read more from “Michigan Judge Sides With Barber, Rejects Governor’s Demand to Close Shop” HERE)

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Michigan Sheriff Says He Won’t Enforce Whitmer’s Stay-At-Home Order

By The Hill. A county sheriff in Michigan said Monday that his office will not enforce Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s (D) stay-at-home order intended to stop the spread of the coronavirus, which data shows has resulted in more than 47,000 cases in the state and more than 4,500 deaths.

Shiawassee County Sheriff Brian BeGole said in a written statement that he decided to share his office’s position on the governor’s executive orders after receiving “many calls” from local residents and businesses on the matter and “especially since the Michigan Legislature did not extend the state of emergency beyond April 30 as required by law.”

“The legality of that is a judicial branch determination,” BeGole said, noting his office’s “responsibility to serve and protect the citizens of Shiawassee County and to ensure their rights as described in both state and federal Constitution.”

“With limited resources, staffing and facilities, our priority focus will be on enforcing duly passed laws for the protection of Shiawassee County citizens,” he added. “I have decided, within my authority, that our office cannot and will not divert our primary resources and efforts towards enforcement of the Governor Whitmer’s executive orders.” (Read more from “Michigan Sheriff Says He Won’t Enforce Whitmer’s Stay-At-Home Order” HERE)

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White House Adviser: ‘Chinese Communist Party’ Dismantled Trump’s ‘Beautiful Economy’ in 60 Days Amid Coronavirus

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” in an exclusive interview that President Trump “built the most powerful and beautiful economy in the world in three years,” but, “the Chinese communist party took it down in 60 days.”

Navarro made the claim three days after House Republicans launched a “China Task Force” to coordinate a strategy against the geopolitical threat from Beijing — coming amid global scrutiny over China’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

The group will set priorities, gather information and coordinate approaches to the threat coming from China, including dealing with legislation, The Washington Post first reported.

The group also is expected to look at China’s influence in the U.S., its efforts to take over international organizations, supply chains and more, along with China’s role in the coronavirus pandemic. Some U.S. officials have pointed to the Wuhan Institute of Virology lab as the possible source of the outbreak. . .

Speaking on Mother’s Day, Navarro explained, “This morning, Americans won’t go to church because of the China virus. Sons and daughters of America won’t be taking their mothers to brunch. Tomorrow, 33 million Americans won’t be going to work and millions of children in America will be home climbing the walls instead of learning reading, writing and arithmetic.” (Read more from “White House Adviser: ‘Chinese Communist Party’ Dismantled Trump’s ‘Beautiful Economy’ in 60 Days Amid Coronavirus” HERE)

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Lawmakers Eye Reforms to $600 Unemployment Benefit in Bid to Save Jobs

Lawmakers are eyeing changes to the $600 payment boost to unemployment benefits to alleviate the incentives leading some workers to choose to remain jobless.

Adding to the urgency is that business owners with granted Paycheck Protection Program loans are having a hard time rehiring furloughed workers because of the unemployment benefit. Yet, if they cannot get those workers back, they risk the loan not being forgiven.

Lawmakers hope to address the problem, which stems from the fact that the increased benefits mean that many people would lose money by working, either by reducing the payment or providing workers with a bonus for staying on the job.

Republican Sen. Mitt Romney from Utah went the bonus route. He has proposed “Patriot Pay,” which would provide essential workers earning less than $50,000 a temporary bonus of up to $12 per hour for May, June, and July, which are the remaining months of the $600 payment if unemployment benefits are not extended.

“Healthcare professionals, grocery store workers, food processors, and many others — the unsung patriots on the front line of this pandemic — every day risk their safety for the health and well-being of our country, and they deserve our unwavering support,” the senator said when announcing his proposal. (Read more from “Lawmakers Eye Reforms to $600 Unemployment Benefit in Bid to Save Jobs” HERE)

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Transcripts Prove Trump-Russia Investigation ‘Was All Phony the Whole Time’ Says Devin Nunes

In the past week, transcripts of House Intelligence Committee testimony from various Obama officials proved that they had no evidentiary basis for investigating alleged Trump-Russia collusion. Rep. Devin Nunes says this proved that the investigation was phony “the whole time.”

“We had a strategy here that we wanted to get every single person that we interviewed, to say whether or not they knew of any evidence of collusion, coordination or conspiracy between the Trump campaign and the Russians,” Nunes said Sunday morning on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures with anchor Maria Bartiromo. “Furthermore, what you will see is that we’ve been asked questions about hearsay. Did they hear anything? Do they know anything? Do they have any leads for us whatsoever? And the answer was always the same. Nothing.”

“I think that’s the real revelation for the American people, is they were using their own Russian dirt to ask questions,” Nunes added. “And it was all fake. It was all phony the whole time.”

At least one former Obama official, Evelyn Farkas, publicly claimed that she new of evidence proving collusion, but later admitted under oath she did not. . .

Following the release of these transcripts and documents, President Trump blasted the Obama administration for their attempted coup. “It was a very dangerous situation what they did,” he said. “These are dirty politicians and dirty cops and some horrible people and hopefully they’re going to pay a big price in the not too distant future.” (Read more from “Transcripts Prove Trump-Russia Investigation ‘Was All Phony the Whole Time’ Says Devin Nunes” HERE)

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Tesla Sues Over Shutdown as Musk Threatens California Exit; California Democrat Reacts to Tesla Lawsuit: ‘F— Elon Musk’

By Bloomberg. Elon Musk lashed out at the California county blocking Tesla Inc. from reopening its only U.S. car plant, threatening to immediately relocate operations to other states and cease manufacturing at the factory.

Hours after the chief executive officer tweeted that Tesla would sue Alameda County, which didn’t allow the facility to resume operations Friday, the electric-car maker filed a complaint with the U.S. District Court in San Francisco. Tesla claims the county’s health order violates due process and “puts businesses deemed critical to the nation’s well-being by the federal and state governments between a rock and a hard place.”

Musk, who has called coronavirus-related shutdown orders fascist, said Tesla will decide whether to keep producing cars in Fremont, California, based on how it’s treated going forward. The Bay area was the first region in the country to implement stay-home orders to contain the spread of Covid-19 and has been cautious about lifting them.

(Read more from “Tesla Sues Over Shutdown as Musk Threatens California Exit” HERE)

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California Democrat Reacts to Tesla Lawsuit, Pullout Plan Over Coronavirus Rules: ‘F— Elon Musk’

By Fox News. A California Democrat seemed less than upset Saturday night at the news that entrepreneur Elon Musk planned to pull much of his company Tesla – along with an unspecified number of jobs — out of the state over coronavirus shutdown rules that have stalled the automaker’s operations.

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez of San Diego appeared to be saying something along the lines of “Good riddance” – except she didn’t exactly use those words.

“F— Elon Musk,” was Gonzalez’s brief response on Twitter.

(Read more from “California Democrat Reacts to Tesla Lawsuit, Pullout Plan Over Coronavirus Rules: ‘F— Elon Musk’” HERE)

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43 Million Americans in Danger of Losing Health Insurance as a Result of Coronavirus Crisis, Study Shows

As many as 43 million Americans are in danger of losing their current health insurance as unemployment surges amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, a new study has shown.

The Urban Institute’s Health Policy Center, an economic and social policy think tank, published a study last week on how the economic recession caused by COVID-19 could affect the health insurance coverage of Americans. The analysis found that between 25 million and 43 million Americans are at risk of losing, or have already lost, their health insurance, which is often tied directly to an individual’s employer.

“Thirty million workers filed initial unemployment claims between March 15 and April 25. Near-term forecasts suggest the unemployment rate will likely be between 15 to 20 percent by June,” the research, which was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, explained.

Although the analysis noted that some Americans would be able to apply for Medicaid in states that have expanded the Affordable Care Act (ACA), known commonly as Obamacare, while others would purchase other private insurance, it estimated that many would be unable to access coverage. The study went on to project how high the number of uninsured Americans will rise. (Read more from “43 Million Americans in Danger of Losing Health Insurance as a Result of Coronavirus Crisis, Study Shows” HERE)

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President Trump: Dems Don’t Want Economy to Recover; Biden Attacks Trump, Blames Him For Coronavirus ‘Economic Disaster’

By Politico. President Donald Trump said Friday some Democratic leaders hope the American economy will not bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic because they believe a national financial recovery would boost his electoral prospects.

“The people want to come back. You see what’s going on at statehouses all over the country. They want to come back,” Trump said at a White House meeting with congressional Republicans, referring to recent demonstrations in several state capitals against stay-at-home orders.

“I think some people don’t want it really to come back, for political reasons, which is sick,” Trump continued, offering no evidence to support his claim. “But the people — the real people, the people that want this country to be great, and great again — we can say they want to get back.” . . .

“I will tell you, you look at some cases, some people think they’re doing it for politics. Here we go again. But they think they’re doing it because it’ll hurt me, the longer it takes to — hurt me in the election, the longer it takes to open up,” Trump told “Fox & Friends.” (Read more from “President Trump: Dems Don’t Want Economy to Recover” HERE)

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Biden Argues Trump’s Policies Fueled Coronavirus ‘Economic Disaster’

By Fox News. Joe Biden launched a blistering attack at President Trump on Friday, hours after the nation’s jobless rate skyrocketed to levels not seen since the Great Depression nearly a century ago.

And the former vice president charged that the sharp economic downturn — caused by the shuttering of much of the nation’s economy in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic — was deepened “because Donald Trump has spent three years tilting the playing field to the wealthy, and not the middle class.” . . .

He emphasized that the president’s economic agenda has “three unmistakable failings.” Biden said Trump’s main measure of economic progress is the state of the stock market and that the president delayed action on the virus to “protect the Dow Jones average.” He also claimed that that Trump’s strategy is focused on helping wealthy corporations and that the president hasn’t lived up to his promise to fight for the forgotten middle class.

“Donald Trump utterly failed to prepare for this pandemic and delayed in taking the necessary steps to safeguard our nation against the near-worst-case-economic scenario we are now living. COVID-19 caused a massive economic challenge. But this crisis hit us harder, and will last longer, because Donald Trump spent the last three years undermining the core pillars of our economic strength,” Biden argued. (Read more from “Biden Argues Trump’s Policies Fueled Coronavirus ‘Economic Disaster’” HERE)

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