Bernie Sanders lays out coronavirus plans, calls Trump’s response ‘largely incompetent’
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WASHINGTON – Sen. Bernie Sanders laid out a plan Thursday to combat the coronavirus pandemic, saying that the Trump Administration has been “largely incompetent.”
“In this time of international crisis, it is clear to me at least, that we have an administration that is largely incompetent and whose incompetence and recklessness have threatened the lives of many, many people in our country,” Sanders said during remarks at Hotel Vermont in Burlington, Vermont.
Sanders outlined that as president he would declare a national emergency for coronavirus, work with health care officials to give updates, make treatments or vaccines free when they are developed, give economic relief to workers who have are sick and must stay home or workers who have been fired, as well as set up relief for service workers whose pay might be affected due to lack of tips.
“It is an absolute moral imperative that our response as a government, as a society, as a business community, and as individual citizens, meet the enormity of this crisis,” he said.
Sanders’ remarks come a couple of hours after former Vice President Joe Biden, who is also seeking the Democratic nomination, announced his plan to combat the crisis.
Trump’s campaign criticized Sanders’ remarks, saying that he “is the wrong prescription for fighting an outbreak like the coronavirus.”
“He’s just another Democrat candidate for president trying to score political points by recklessly provoking anxiety and fear,” Trump 2020 communications director Tim Murtaugh said in a statement.
– Rebecca Morin
Senate cancels recess amid coronavirus negotiations
In a tweet, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced the Senate will stay in session through next week, canceling its recess.
“I am glad talks are ongoing between the Administration and (House) Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi. I hope Congress can pass bipartisan legislation to continue combating the coronavirus and keep our economy strong,” McConnell wrote.
Senators had urged each other to keep the chamber in session to address the coronavirus pandemic and reauthorize surveillance authority for counterterrorism investigations.
“Our nation’s leaders must cast aside partisan politics and put the health of our country first. Congress needs to cancel its recess and stay in session so we can work together in a bipartisan fashion to address the coronavirus pandemic,” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said.
Democrats also were open to halting the recess to get the coronavirus bill over the finish line.
“The bottom line is the sooner we can get something done the better,” said Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
– Nicholas Wu and Christal Hayes
Biden releases coronavirus plan, says Trump is ‘welcome to adopt all of it’
Former Vice President Joe Biden introduced a plan Thursday to combat the coronavirus pandemic, one day after President Donald Trump announced a travel ban from Europe for the next 30 days to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
“This disease could impact every nation under any person on the planet,” Biden said during his remarks at Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington, Delaware. “We need a plan about how we’re going to aggressively manage it at home.”
Some aspects of Biden’s plan include making the coronavirus test more easily accessible, frequent updates about the pandemic from health care officials and economic relief for families who have been hit by coronavirus.
“President Trump is welcome to adopt all of it today,” Biden said of his plan. He also criticized Trump’s travel suspension from Europe, adding that although it may slow, spread of the virus, “it will not stop it.”
Trump’s campaign slammed Biden’s remarks, saying the president’s “every move has been aimed at keeping Americans safe, while Joe Biden has sought to capitalize politically and stoke citizens’ fears.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders is giving remarks later Thursday on the “health and economic crisis” in the United States.
— Rebecca Morin
Redfield agrees CDC will pay for costs of testing uninsured
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield said he was willing use his existing authority to have the CDC pay for all Americans to be tested for the coronavirus, including the uninsured, after persistent questioning from Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., during a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing Thursday.
Porter asserted that Redfield has such authority under federal law. Redfield initially told Porter said he was discussing the matter with HHS, but after further questions, Redfield agreed he would commit to using his authority to authorize payment for the tests.
“I think you’re an excellent questioner, so my answer is yes,” Redfield told Porter.
– William Cummings
Trump: Markets will be ‘just fine’ despite plunge
President Donald Trump downplayed the latest plunge in stocks, saying Thursday that “the markets are going to be just fine.”
During a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, Trump said he is considering declaring a national emergency on coronavirus and what steps he might take under it.
Trump said he has “memorized practically” the Stafford Act, which governs federal emergencies. If coronavirus is declared an emergency, it would make it easier for the federal government to send money and other help to state and local governments to deal with it.
“We have very strong emergency powers under the Stafford Act,” Trump said. “I have it memorized practically as to the powers in that act. And if I need to do something I’ll do it. I have the right to do a lot of things that people don’t even know about.”
Coronavirus:Pelosi pushes for swift passage of coronavirus bill despite Republican concerns
The New York Stock Exchange halted trading temporarily Thursday after a 7% decline. The loss came a day after Trump announced travel restrictions to Europe and a package of economic proposals to cope with the virus in the USA.
Trump opened the Oval Office meeting, which began without the customary ceremonial handshake, saying France and Germany are having difficulties, and Italy has “probably record-setting” problems.
Wednesday, Trump and Varadkar each gave speeches to their own countries about dealing with the pandemic of coronavirus.
Trump announced a 30-day suspension in travel from Europe – other than the United Kingdom – to the USA. Travel groups said 850,000 people traveled from those countries to the USA in March 2019 and spent $3.4 billion.
European travel ban:EU leaders slam Trump’s sweeping coronavirus travel ban
Trump said he had to move “quickly” on the travel restrictions, which he said prevented consultations with European leaders. He said the United Kingdom was excluded because it’s doing a good job of containing the virus.
“We had to make a decision, and we didn’t want to take time,” Trump said.
Contributing: Deirdre Shesgreen and Ledyard King
