Daily Digest for July 28, 2020 Posted at 6:45 a.m. by Cody Nelson |
Good morning and welcome to this Tuesday Capitol View.
Attacks sharpen divisions in Minnesota battle between Ilhan Omar and Antone Melton-Meaux
Torey Van Oot reports in the Star Tribune, "Ads and new attacks are flying across Minneapolis’ Fifth Congressional District as first-term U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar seeks to fend off a well-funded primary challenge in one of the safest Democratic districts in the nation."
Congressional Republicans have introduced another bill intended to help people financially amid the pandemic. They called it the "HEALS Act." Democrats say it's not enough help, with Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, calling the unemployment assistance proposal "a punch in the gut and a slap in the face" to those without jobs.
The proposal would not continue the $600 in weekly federal benefits that have helped many people make ends meet in recent months. While the proposal would give many individuals another $1,200 stimulus check, the weekly supplemental payment would drop to $200 a week through September and then be replaced by an amount equal to 70 percent of a person's lost wages..
CARES Act benefits end in days and Congress will go on recess early next month. That leaves our elected officials with two weeks to negotiate and send a bill to the president's desk before they break on Aug. 7.
Republicans did throw in some help for businesses, though. One provision offers new legal protections against pandemic-related lawsuits as well as more small business loans and a plan to manufacture personal protective equipment in the U.S.
Civil rights icon and late congressman John Lewis made his final visit to the U.S. Capitol yesterday. NPR reports: "Several lawmakers, virtually all wearing face coverings as a precaution amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, attended a private ceremony at the Capitol. Some members of Congress wore masks that read 'Good Trouble' — a mantra Lewis repeated often to encourage others to speak up and take action against oppression. Watch ceremony here." |
|
|
|
|
