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A Unanimous Senate Vote That Nobody Seemed to Agree On A Unanimous Senate Vote That Nobody Seemed to Agree On
(2 months later)
WASHINGTON — After a four-year stretch marked by an acrimonious fight over a Supreme Court vacancy, the poisonous Kavanaugh confirmation and a bitter impeachment trial, was it too much to hope that a global health and economic crisis could suddenly rid the Senate of its own partisan infection?WASHINGTON — After a four-year stretch marked by an acrimonious fight over a Supreme Court vacancy, the poisonous Kavanaugh confirmation and a bitter impeachment trial, was it too much to hope that a global health and economic crisis could suddenly rid the Senate of its own partisan infection?
It was.It was.
True, the Senate voted 96 to 0 late Wednesday night to deliver a sweeping $2 trillion response to the coronavirus pandemic, a remarkable show of unanimity for the biggest government aid package in history. The House passed the measure and sent it to President Trump on Friday after having to hustle lawmakers into town to overcome a sudden Republican threat to hold it up.True, the Senate voted 96 to 0 late Wednesday night to deliver a sweeping $2 trillion response to the coronavirus pandemic, a remarkable show of unanimity for the biggest government aid package in history. The House passed the measure and sent it to President Trump on Friday after having to hustle lawmakers into town to overcome a sudden Republican threat to hold it up.
The outcome was never in doubt. Members of Congress are as worried as every other American about the pandemic, and have the power and the money to do something about it, so significant action was inevitable. Lawmakers also knew they would be quickly run out of office if they failed to respond adequately to the gravest national health emergency in a century.The outcome was never in doubt. Members of Congress are as worried as every other American about the pandemic, and have the power and the money to do something about it, so significant action was inevitable. Lawmakers also knew they would be quickly run out of office if they failed to respond adequately to the gravest national health emergency in a century.
The test was in both the final contents of the package and how members of the Senate, which took the lead on assembling wide-ranging legislation that touched nearly every facet of the economy and the health care system, would get it done. Could they come together as they did in the days after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and put aside their political differences in a show of strength and solidarity, or would they continue to wage the political war that has been intensifying for years?The test was in both the final contents of the package and how members of the Senate, which took the lead on assembling wide-ranging legislation that touched nearly every facet of the economy and the health care system, would get it done. Could they come together as they did in the days after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and put aside their political differences in a show of strength and solidarity, or would they continue to wage the political war that has been intensifying for years?
On the floor, at least, it was the latter. Glowering senators, hands on hips and fingers wagging, spent a good part of three days castigating one another across the aisle as Democrats held up the emergency aid to wring what they saw as essential concessions from the White House.On the floor, at least, it was the latter. Glowering senators, hands on hips and fingers wagging, spent a good part of three days castigating one another across the aisle as Democrats held up the emergency aid to wring what they saw as essential concessions from the White House.
The accusations and the tone were ugly. Democrats accused Republicans of being callous and trying to jam through legislation that would have enabled corporate corruption while giving short shrift to American workers. Republicans stepped it up a notch and essentially accused Democrats of killing their fellow citizens.The accusations and the tone were ugly. Democrats accused Republicans of being callous and trying to jam through legislation that would have enabled corporate corruption while giving short shrift to American workers. Republicans stepped it up a notch and essentially accused Democrats of killing their fellow citizens.
“When you will look back on this in a day — in a week, in a month — you will just ask: How many deaths could have been prevented if this bill had been passed yesterday instead of today,” Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, the No. 3 Senate Republican, said on the floor as he pounded Democrats for blocking the measure.“When you will look back on this in a day — in a week, in a month — you will just ask: How many deaths could have been prevented if this bill had been passed yesterday instead of today,” Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, the No. 3 Senate Republican, said on the floor as he pounded Democrats for blocking the measure.
The whole episode was discouraging to longtime senators such as Pat Roberts, the veteran Kansas Republican who is retiring.The whole episode was discouraging to longtime senators such as Pat Roberts, the veteran Kansas Republican who is retiring.
“This is not the Senate I came to 24 years ago,” he lamented. “This blanket of comity and respect is pretty threadbare right now.”“This is not the Senate I came to 24 years ago,” he lamented. “This blanket of comity and respect is pretty threadbare right now.”
In some ways, the legislative dynamic was a reverse of the situation 12 years ago when the House, in fits of acrimony and blame, got tied in knots over the 2008 economic rescue and left it to the Senate to more calmly go about its business despite deep divisions of its own. This time, it was the Senate that became bogged down in fighting while the House seemed more grown up — something no self-respecting senator ever wants to contemplate.In some ways, the legislative dynamic was a reverse of the situation 12 years ago when the House, in fits of acrimony and blame, got tied in knots over the 2008 economic rescue and left it to the Senate to more calmly go about its business despite deep divisions of its own. This time, it was the Senate that became bogged down in fighting while the House seemed more grown up — something no self-respecting senator ever wants to contemplate.
Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the toxic spectacle that unfolded on the floor was how manufactured all the outrage appeared to be. Negotiations were continuing just steps away in the leadership offices of both Republicans and Democrats, and virtually everyone knew that there was going to be a resolution at some point soon — though majority Republicans were up in arms that Democrats were using their leverage to extract more of what they wanted. The harsh attacks — and the Republican suggestion that Democrats were pushing extraneous provisions that really were not part of the relevant negotiations — were in some ways pure political theater.Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the toxic spectacle that unfolded on the floor was how manufactured all the outrage appeared to be. Negotiations were continuing just steps away in the leadership offices of both Republicans and Democrats, and virtually everyone knew that there was going to be a resolution at some point soon — though majority Republicans were up in arms that Democrats were using their leverage to extract more of what they wanted. The harsh attacks — and the Republican suggestion that Democrats were pushing extraneous provisions that really were not part of the relevant negotiations — were in some ways pure political theater.
“Frankly, I think what has been happening on the floor today has been sort of artificial and hasn’t really shown the American public what is truly going on,” Senator Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, said in a speech on Monday. “There were a lot of speeches that were taking place wherein it was sort of a blame game, and I don’t think that is what Americans wanted to see today.”“Frankly, I think what has been happening on the floor today has been sort of artificial and hasn’t really shown the American public what is truly going on,” Senator Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, said in a speech on Monday. “There were a lot of speeches that were taking place wherein it was sort of a blame game, and I don’t think that is what Americans wanted to see today.”
“What Americans didn’t see yesterday and today is the intense dialogue and debate and discussion around the third coronavirus response bill — by far the largest,” Mr. Kaine said.“What Americans didn’t see yesterday and today is the intense dialogue and debate and discussion around the third coronavirus response bill — by far the largest,” Mr. Kaine said.
One reason for the furious show of partisanship was obvious: Senators are engaged in a fierce battle for control of the chamber in November. Several Republican incumbents are in serious trouble and were not going to miss the opportunity to try to score points against Democrats for irresponsibility and to show voters back home they were fighting the good fight in Washington. With Senator Chuck Schumer of the New York, the Democratic leader, organizing the campaign against them, Republicans were particularly agitated when discussing him. Mr. Schumer, who was at the center of the negotiations, drives Republicans into a frenzy.One reason for the furious show of partisanship was obvious: Senators are engaged in a fierce battle for control of the chamber in November. Several Republican incumbents are in serious trouble and were not going to miss the opportunity to try to score points against Democrats for irresponsibility and to show voters back home they were fighting the good fight in Washington. With Senator Chuck Schumer of the New York, the Democratic leader, organizing the campaign against them, Republicans were particularly agitated when discussing him. Mr. Schumer, who was at the center of the negotiations, drives Republicans into a frenzy.
“People are dying, and the Democratic leaders think it an opportunity to score political points and grab power,” said Senator Martha McSally, a highly endangered Republican from Arizona, who took the floor to accuse Mr. Schumer of “flat-out lies.”“People are dying, and the Democratic leaders think it an opportunity to score political points and grab power,” said Senator Martha McSally, a highly endangered Republican from Arizona, who took the floor to accuse Mr. Schumer of “flat-out lies.”
“It is despicable. It is infuriating. It is immoral, and it must stop,” she said of the delay.“It is despicable. It is infuriating. It is immoral, and it must stop,” she said of the delay.
There were some bright spots, almost all of them behind the scenes. Given the rare opportunity to legislate, Republican and Democratic Senate committee leaders did come together to quickly draft major emergency aid efforts. Members of the Small Business Committee, not usually a hotbed of Senate action, were but one example.There were some bright spots, almost all of them behind the scenes. Given the rare opportunity to legislate, Republican and Democratic Senate committee leaders did come together to quickly draft major emergency aid efforts. Members of the Small Business Committee, not usually a hotbed of Senate action, were but one example.
Having watched the crisis tear through China and Italy, Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, who leads the panel, and Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the committee, began working on their own plan in late February. They were joined by Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine and a former Small Business Administration official, and Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire, in producing a new $377 billion program to provide forgivable loans to small businesses.Having watched the crisis tear through China and Italy, Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, who leads the panel, and Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the committee, began working on their own plan in late February. They were joined by Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine and a former Small Business Administration official, and Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire, in producing a new $377 billion program to provide forgivable loans to small businesses.
Updated June 5, 2020
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission.
Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home.
States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.
The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.
But such successes also came with issues, as Democrats complained they were later blindsided by a provision added to the small-business package that was meant to make sure that nonprofit groups such as Planned Parenthood received none of the money.But such successes also came with issues, as Democrats complained they were later blindsided by a provision added to the small-business package that was meant to make sure that nonprofit groups such as Planned Parenthood received none of the money.
Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, sought to focus on the big picture of the passage without dissent of the huge bill in such a short period of time — though he noted some “stupidity” on the floor from the Democratic side.Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, sought to focus on the big picture of the passage without dissent of the huge bill in such a short period of time — though he noted some “stupidity” on the floor from the Democratic side.
“If I were writing your headline, I’d say the Senate has pivoted from one of the most contentious partisan periods in the nation’s history to passing this rescue package 100 to nothing,” he told reporters after approval of the measure, referring to the impeachment trial. “I think it says a lot about the United States Senate as an institution, our willingness to put aside our differences, and to do something really significant for the country.”“If I were writing your headline, I’d say the Senate has pivoted from one of the most contentious partisan periods in the nation’s history to passing this rescue package 100 to nothing,” he told reporters after approval of the measure, referring to the impeachment trial. “I think it says a lot about the United States Senate as an institution, our willingness to put aside our differences, and to do something really significant for the country.”
Senators did do something consequential, but they were a long way from putting aside their differences. They seem to have more and more trouble doing so, a fact that does not bode well if the partisanship remains so intense even in times of crisis.Senators did do something consequential, but they were a long way from putting aside their differences. They seem to have more and more trouble doing so, a fact that does not bode well if the partisanship remains so intense even in times of crisis.