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Unemployment benefits expire for millions as Trump rages
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Unemployment benefits for millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet lapsed overnight as President Donald Trump refused to sign an end-of-year COVID relief and spending bill that had been considered a done deal before his sudden objections.
The fate of the bipartisan package remained in limbo Sunday as Trump continued to demand larger COVID relief checks and complained about “pork” spending. Without the widespread funding provided by the massive measure, a government shutdown would occur when money runs out at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.
“It’s a chess game and we are pawns,” said Lanetris Haines, a self-employed single mother of three in South Bend, Indiana, who stood to lose her $129 weekly jobless benefit unless Trump signed the package into law or succeeded in his improbable quest for changes
Washington has been reeling since Trump turned on the deal after it had won sweeping approval in both houses of Congress and after the White House had assured Republican leaders that Trump would support it.
Instead, he assailed the bill’s plan to provide $600 COVID relief checks to most Americans — insisting it should be $2,000. House Republicans swiftly rejected that idea during a rare Christmas Eve session. But Trump has not been swayed in spite of the nation being in the grip of a pandemic.
“I simply want to get our great people $2000, rather than the measly $600 that is now in the bill,” Trump tweeted Saturday from Palm Beach, Florida, where he is spending the holiday. “Also, stop the billions of dollars in ‘pork.’”
President-elect Joe Biden called on Trump to sign the bill immediately as the midnight Saturday deadline neared for two federal programs providing unemployment aid.
“It is the day after Christmas, and millions of families don’t know if they’ll be able to make ends meet because of President Donald Trump’s refusal to sign an economic relief bill approved by Congress with an overwhelming and bipartisan majority,” Biden said in a statement. He accused Trump of an “abdication of responsibility” that has “devastating consequences.”
“I’ve been talking to people who are scared they’re going to be kicked out from their homes, during the Christmas holidays, and still might be if we don’t sign this bill,” said Rep. Debbie Dingell, a Michigan Democrat.
Lauren Bauer, a fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, has calculated that 11 million people would lose aid from the programs immediately without additional relief; millions more would exhaust other unemployment benefits within weeks.
If Trump pardons himself, Biden should un-pardon him KEN GORMLEY If President Donald Trump makes the ill-advised decision to try to pardon himself before he leaves the White House in January, incoming president Joe Biden should respond with another unprecedented step: He should “un-pardon” his predecessor.
That might sound strange, even extra-constitutional. Certainly, there’s nothing in the words of the Constitution or in historical precedent that speaks of undoing a self-pardon — but that’s because there’s nothing that authorizes a self-pardon in the first place. The Constitution’s text, its original meaning and historical precedent all point strongly against the validity of a self-pardon.
In part because it’s unlikely that the legitimacy of such an audacious act would be determined in court, it’s important for the new president, with the advice of his Justice Department, to take a stand against this dangerous precedent.
The framers of the Constitution gave the chief executive enormous discretion in wielding pardons. Presidents have used this sprawling power to pardon political allies (George H.W. Bush pardoned former defense secretary Caspar Weinberger), and even family members (President Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother, Roger Clinton). The pardon power permits the president to pardon individuals of all past federal crimes, and even crimes that have not been specified. If Mr. Trump chooses to pardon his children or any other person within his orbit, he can do it.
Nashville explosion investigation prompts FBI to search home of possible person of interest
More than 24 hours after the explosion, a motive remained elusive as investigators worked round-the-clock to resolve unanswered questions about a recreational vehicle that blew up on a mostly deserted street on a sleepy holiday morning and was prefaced by a recorded warning advising those nearby to evacuate. The attack, which damaged an AT&T building, continued to wreak havoc Saturday on cellphone service and police and hospital communications in several Southern states.
Investigators from multiple federal and local law enforcement agencies were at a home in Antioch, in suburban Nashville, after receiving information relevant to the investigation, said FBI Special Agent Jason Pack. Another law enforcement official, who was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said investigators regard a person associated with the property as a person of interest.
Devastating consequences': Biden blasts Trump for not signing COVID relief bill before unemployment aid lapses. Opinion: Letters defending Trump almost don't exist anymore
The answers is, as far as I can tell, not much, or at least a lot less than before. Sure, we still receive submissions that repeat the president's false election conspiracies, but those aren't seriously considered for publication for the same reason letters supporting flat-eartherism aren't seriously considered for publication. After the election, letters defending the president's actions and policy positions have diminished to a trickle; on specific issues like his recent pardons, they are all but nonexistent.
There is still the occasional letter from a pro-Trump reader expressing animus toward Democrats, but when it comes to defending him on specific matters after his election loss, Trump appears to be on his own.
New Yorkers Call For COVID Relief From Federal Government https://www.youtube.com/watch DEADLY SHOOTING
6 shot, 3 killed in apparent random shooting at Don Carter Lanes bowling alley in Rockford, IL v=FTGmgyBWwKQ. Sandusky Local News. I love Santown.Erie County commissioners sworn into office
PERKINS TWP. — The two Erie County commissioners winning re-election this past year recently renewed their oath of offices.
This past week, both Matt Old and Pat Shenigo underwent the standard process, without any fanfare due to COVID-19 guidelines, before their new four-year terms begin in January.
Old, a Republican, soundly defeated Democratic challenger Grant Harding in November’s election, obtaining 63% of the total vote to secure his second term.
“I am looking forward to serving another four years as commissioner,” Old said. “Over the past four years, we have reformed the way the county government does business. In the next four years, we will continue the progress and begin to make substantial investments in our community."Case in point: Erie County's debt shrank to about $63 million entering 2020, according to local financial data. It’s the lowest amount owed since 2002 and marks a 46 percent decrease compared to when county debt peaked at $116 million in 2008.
Shenigo, a Democrat, didn’t face an opponent in November’s election but did easily fend off an attempt by fellow party member Julie Farrar in April's primary. Shenigo locked up 61% of the total vote.
“While our immediate future economy will continue to be challenging, I am confident that Erie County has positioned itself, financially, to continue to provide all services for our citizens,” Shenigo said.
The only Democrat on commission, Shenigo touted his great working relationship with Old and fellow Republican Steve Shoffner, who was first elected in 2018 and is finishing up his second year in office.
“It’s also reassuring to know that we have two fellow, like-minded commissioners, in Matt and Steve, that share the same philosophies and principles as I believe,” Shenigo said. “Smaller government, control expenses, grow our local economy and, above all else, treat taxpayers’ money as you would your own.”
Looking back: How the Ohio government nearly owned Cedar Point
In the 1950s, Gov. Frank Lausche pushed for Ohio to purchase Cedar Point and turn the area into a state park. Lausche even had the support of legislative leaders and other state officials. But the state never followed through.
Frank Lausche knew an opportunity when he saw one.
The year was 1956, and the Democratic governor had already spent years advocating for Ohio to invest more resources into public beaches along Lake Erie.
The majority ownership of Cedar Point, the famed amusement park and beach resort, wanted to sell its shares. A group of investors sought to buy Cedar Point, close the resort and turn the entire site into a housing development.
Local residents were dismayed. Lausche saw opportunity. He proposed the state buy the 400-acre site and turn it into a public state park. The state already owned several beach properties along Lake Erie and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources viewed Cedar Point as a desirable addition.
Despite initial momentum in favor of the plan, the deal never went through. What followed was a sequence of delayed decision-making, political flip flops and finger-pointing between the two branches of government.
It remains one of the great “what ifs” in Ohio political history.
Momentum grows
First and foremost, Lausche needed the support of the Ohio General Assembly, whose members control the power of the purse.
Lausche had already scheduled a special session at the Ohio Statehouse for June 28, 1956. In the weeks leading up to it, he told reporters of his plans to pose the Cedar Point purchase question during the session.
Public sentiment was clear — state ownership was preferable to letting Cedar Point fall into the hands of private real estate developers. Various business leaders and civic groups came out in favor of Lausche’s idea.
Most newspapers were supportive, though a few poured cold water on the plan. An editorial from the East Liverpool Evening Review laid out several concerns about the “monetary wrinkles” still to be ironed out.
“(T)he state would have to pour a large sum of money into new capital investment and additional large amounts into operating expense,” the paper wrote. “If the present owners cannot keep Cedar Point going for pay, what reason is there to believe the state of Ohio could keep it going for free without covering large deficits?”
The Evening Review acknowledged the project would be good for Ohioans — “their bodies, their souls, their morale” — but expressed concern their nostalgia toward the “once-booming resort area” could lead to a bad financial decision of public funds.
Speaking of funding, no one seemed to have any clue what the purchase price or ongoing expenses would be. The purchase alone was estimated to be between $900,000 and $6 million.
From there, proposals differed in that some called for Ohio to only operate a public beach, while others wanted Ohio to continue operating the entire amusement park as well as the beach. Would the state commit to renovating the famed Breakers Hotel? The existing park attractions? Building new ones? Few actual specifics were ever offered.
There was also the matter of transportation to and from the proposed state park. The “Causeway” bridge now serving as the main entry point for Cedar Point did not exist in 1956. The narrow “Chaussee” entrance was seen as unsuitable for handling an influx of tourists. Officials fretted over the potential cost of renovating that road or having to operate a ferry boat service.
Nevertheless, momentum grew in favor of the state agreeing to buy the park. Lt. Gov. John Brown was so enthusiastic that he urged Lausche to throw in a purchase of Chippewa Lake Park in Medina as well. (Brown was previously the mayor of Medina.) It seems Lausche did not try to press his luck.
‘The idea was dropped like a hot rivet’
Lausche had to contend with two legislative leaders from the opposing political party, neither of which were from northern Ohio. But he was heartened to learn a week before the special legislative session that he had the support of House Speaker Roger Cloud of Logan County and Senate President Pro-Tem C. Stanley Mechem of Athens County.
Many other lawmakers joined them in quick succession, offering quotes of support to their local publications.
Then business interests and a little bit of incompetence got in the way.
Cloud announced a group of lawmakers would tour the Cedar Point site. There was just one problem: he could not locate enough legislators who were available to make the trip. Most of those representing northern Ohio were aboard a “Great Lakes Cruise” organized by the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce.
Cloud had to wait for them to return, eventually making plans for a June 27 trip to the park — just one day before the special session. After that date was announced in the press, the lawmakers decided to go on June 26 instead, but apparently neglected to tell park officials of the change in plans. The park president was out of town that day, and lawmakers headed back to Columbus still without a concrete idea of what Ohio could buy or how much it would cost.
Cincinnati-area lawmakers were not too keen on the idea of investing more money into Lake Erie tourism, and vowed to reject the project.
What seemed like a sure deal just days before suddenly had fallen apart.
On the morning of June 28, Lausche decided against officially asking the legislature to buy Cedar Point. The local Sandusky Register newspaper reported that Lausche “apparently bowed to obviously prevailing sentiment in the GOP-controlled legislature that the purchase could await more complete consideration by the regular session which will meet in January (of 1957).”
Lawmakers did, however, decide to review the matter further. The two chambers voted almost unanimously to ask the Legislative Service Commission to prepare a study on the subject.
Two months later, LSC held a meeting at Cedar Point to hear testimony from local officials. Opponents dominated this discussion. Sandusky’s mayor complained of potential traffic problems and about losing more land to tax-free government ownership. The Sandusky Chamber of Commerce expressed fears the state would go with a “beach only” plan and cut the jobs of amusement park workers.
Lawmakers distanced themselves from the project, even those that had once supported it. State Rep. Ethyl Swanbeck, whose district included Cedar Point, had been an early advocate of the plan but later thought it wise to hold off.
Joseph Bartunek, a Cleveland Democrat serving as the Senate Minority Leader, had once trumpeted the public response to the plan as “tremendous” and told reporters, “I think it is something that should be saved for future generations of Ohio.”
After the LSC meeting, however, Bartunek agreed that Ohio should instead renovate the state parks it already owned.
“The (Cedar Point) idea was dropped like a hot rivet,” The Salem News would later write.
Becoming the ‘Disneyland of the Midwest’
While the Ohio General Assembly deliberated, a Cleveland bank representing the majority ownership for Cedar Point sought approval in Erie County Common Pleas Court to sell its shares.
In September 1956, a judge gave the go-ahead. A group of investors led by entrepreneur George Roose was ready to move in to take control.
Roose, native of Perrysburg, had lived an interesting life to that point. He served in World War I before returning to Ohio and graduating from Oberlin College. After studying law at Harvard University, he ran a successful investment bank before losing everything when the stock market crashed in 1929.
“There was a point in time when all I could lay my hands on was $50,” he told a reporter many decades later.
Roose had grand ideas about what to do with Cedar Point — none of which involved beaches or roller coasters. Roose wanted to raze the entire park in order to build an upscale housing development. The location right on Lake Erie couldn’t be more perfect.
At some point in the early weeks of 1957, Roose and the investors changed their minds. The new management confirmed in February it would continue operating the amusement park, bathing beach and Breakers Hotel after all. Roose also announced the highly-anticipated Causeway bridge would be open in time for Memorial Day.
This pretty much spelled the end for Ohio’s hopes of buying the property. With the crisis of losing the resort to private real estate averted, lawmakers lost interest in pursuing ownership of the park.
Other state officials, however, lamented the missed opportunity over the coming years.
In 1958, the 62-year-old Roose became president of Cedar Point amusement park. The man who had once wanted to demolish the site now saw potential as it becoming the “Disneyland of the Midwest.” He oversaw the construction of many classic Cedar Point attractions, from the Blue Streak roller coaster to the steam locomotive.
When the Corkscrew coaster was built in 1976, Roose — now in his eighties — was a devoted rider. In fact, he rode every ride in the park, figuring that paying customers wouldn’t enjoy riding them if the park’s president didn’t enjoy them too.
Roose finally retired in 1977 at the age of 81. The park is now the flagship of Cedar Fair, a multi-billion dollar company headquartered in Sandusky with a dozen amusement parks from coast to coast.
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TRUMP HAS NOBODY TO BLAME EXCEPT HIS ego that he WORSHIP> ALL HE HAD TO DO WAS lock them up. EASY HE THOUGHT. HE LEFT HIS DESTINY to others. ALL HIS TROJAN HORSE. HE HIRE. So blame yourself...sign the bill and VOTE on a stand alone 2000.00 PUT all your enemies the rebums in a box and let them START SCREAMING AUSTERITY and deficit matter after 19 years of bombs and bs support the TROOP while PEOPLE HAVE JUST BEGUN TO SUFFER. THEY LIVING IN THE PASS. THOSE UGLY BIGOTS will be on there ass..
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