British Prime Minister Boris Johnson takes questions from members virtually and in-person on the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic and the U.K.'s reopening measures.
Author and Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation Chair Amity Shlaes discussed the impact of government programs during a virtual event hosted by the Heritage Foundation. Ms. Shlaes talked about the unintended consequences of government intervention during an economic crisis. She says the current economic situation is best compared to the financial crisis which followed World War 1 and the Spanish Flu. Ms. Shlaes argues President Calvin Coolidge's (R) approach of minimal government intervention led to economic prosperity during the 1920s.
Following morning prayer and the pledge of allegiance Senator Grassley and Senate Majority leader McConnell spoke on the Senate floor about the how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted businesses and discussed the future of reopening of the country safely.
Senate Minority Leader Schumer spoke on the Senate floor criticizing the President Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic. Schumer says America can't go back to work until there are more tests are made available.
Senator Durbin spoke on the Senate floor about President Trump not participating in a meeting with world leaders on finding a vaccine for the coronavirus.
Senator Lee spoke on the Senate floor about reauthorization of programs under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) law that expired on March 15th.
The Senate will debate H.R. 6172, USA Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2020, a bill to reauthorize and reform the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) through December 1, 2023.
Senator Schumer spoke on the Senate floor about the Coronavirus response, criticizing the President's response to reopening the country. He urged a motion for the CDC documents dealing with reopening the country safely to be released immediately. Republican Senator Braun opposed.
In a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court ruled that a state can require an elector to vote for the presidential candidate who won that state's popular vote and if that elector does not do so that person can be penalized. Justice Elena Kagan authored the majority opinion for the court. The justices heard oral argument for Chiafalo v. Washington via teleconference due to the coronavirus pandemic in May 2020. In 2016, Peter Chiafalo served as an elector. While Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in the state, Mr. Chiafalo and two other electors cast their Electoral College ballots for Colin Powell. This vote resulted in a $1,000 fine for each of them. Washington law requires electors to vote for the person who won the state's popular vote. Mr. Chiafalo and the electors filed suit challenging the law. This ruling also applies to a similar case, Colorado Department of State v. Baca.
In a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court ruled that a state can require an elector to vote for the presidential candidate who won that state's popular vote and if that elector does not do so that person can be penalized. Justice Elena Kagan authored the majority opinion for the court. The justices heard oral argument in Colorado Department of State v. Baca via teleconference in May 2020. This case arose from the 2016 presidential election after a Colorado elector, Micheal Baca, cast his vote for John Kasich instead of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, who won the state's popular vote. The Colorado secretary of state replaced Mr. Baca with another elector who did vote for Mrs. Clinton. Two other electors who wanted to vote for Mr. Kasich ended up voting for Mrs. Clinton. Mr. Baca and these electors filed suit arguing the state violated their constitutional rights. Justice Sonia Sotomayor is recused from this case. This ruling also applies to Chiafalo v. Washington.
The National Constitution Center held a panel discussion following Supreme Court oral arguments in Chiafalo v. Washington and Colorado Department of State v. Baca. The two cases concern whether electors must vote for the winner of a state's popular vote in the Electoral College. David Kopel, research director for the Independence Institute and law professor at the University of Denver, and Paul Smith, vice president of litigation and strategy at the Campaign Legal Center, joined the discussion moderated by National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen.
Senator Schumer spoke on the Senate floor about the Coronavirus response, criticizing the President's response to reopening the country. He urged a motion for the CDC documents dealing with reopening the country safely to be released immediately. Republican Senator Braun opposed.
Senator Portman spoke about the Coronavirus response and the economic aid package being proposed in the U.S. House. He also spoke about the origins of the virus in Wuhan, China.
Senators Daines and Wyden spoke on the Senate floor about their amendment to the FISA Reauthorization Bill. The amendment would prevent law enforcement from obtaining internet browsing data without a warrant.
In a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court ruled that a state can require an elector to vote for the presidential candidate who won that state's popular vote and if that elector does not do so that person can be penalized. Justice Elena Kagan authored the majority opinion for the court. The justices heard oral argument for Chiafalo v. Washington via teleconference due to the coronavirus pandemic in May 2020. In 2016, Peter Chiafalo served as an elector. While Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in the state, Mr. Chiafalo and two other electors cast their Electoral College ballots for Colin Powell. This vote resulted in a $1,000 fine for each of them. Washington law requires electors to vote for the person who won the state's popular vote. Mr. Chiafalo and the electors filed suit challenging the law. This ruling also applies to a similar case, Colorado Department of State v. Baca.
In a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court ruled that a state can require an elector to vote for the presidential candidate who won that state's popular vote and if that elector does not do so that person can be penalized. Justice Elena Kagan authored the majority opinion for the court. The justices heard oral argument in Colorado Department of State v. Baca via teleconference in May 2020. This case arose from the 2016 presidential election after a Colorado elector, Micheal Baca, cast his vote for John Kasich instead of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, who won the state's popular vote. The Colorado secretary of state replaced Mr. Baca with another elector who did vote for Mrs. Clinton. Two other electors who wanted to vote for Mr. Kasich ended up voting for Mrs. Clinton. Mr. Baca and these electors filed suit arguing the state violated their constitutional rights. Justice Sonia Sotomayor is recused from this case. This ruling also applies to Chiafalo v. Washington.
The National Constitution Center held a panel discussion following Supreme Court oral arguments in Chiafalo v. Washington and Colorado Department of State v. Baca. The two cases concern whether electors must vote for the winner of a state's popular vote in the Electoral College. David Kopel, research director for the Independence Institute and law professor at the University of Denver, and Paul Smith, vice president of litigation and strategy at the Campaign Legal Center, joined the discussion moderated by National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell discussed monetary and fiscal policy amid the coronavirus pandemic during a virtual event hosted by the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Mr. Powell called the economic downturn due to the pandemic unprecedented, arguing that more fiscal and monetary policy action would be needed. While he warned of the negative impacts of long and deep recessions, he also expressed confidence that in a few years the United States could return to economic prosperity once the virus is under control.
