NPR misreporting on stimulus proposals

Again, NPR "informed" us on-air about the possibility of a stimulus bill by interviewing only a republican. He made some reference to Democrats wanting to give aid to "blue states", although of course Democrats, unlike Trump, would not apply different standards to states depending on how they vote. No mention as usual that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is insisting that employers be shielded from liability if their workers contract the coronavirus.

Even in their online article, they say top Democrats proposal "includes a temporary block on pandemic-related lawsuits to allow states to craft their own policies on legal liability", when it is the republicans that are insisting on this.

 

Besides their dependence on donations from big corporations, NPR has to be careful not to tick off McConnell and other republicans who might totally cut off the meager federal public funding NPR already gets.

 

https://www.npr.org/2020/12/02/941587004/pelosi-and-schumer-endorse-bipartisan-covid-19-relief-back-off-push-for-larger-b

Pelosi, Schumer Endorse Negotiations on COVID-19 Relief, Back Off Push for Larger Bill

December 2, 20204:29 PM ET
Kelsey Snell

 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer say a $908 billion coronavirus relief proposal should be the starting point for bipartisan aid.

It is the first time Pelosi, D-Calif., and Schumer, D-N.Y., have accepted any COVID-19 legislation other than the $2.2 trillion bill that passed the House of Representatives in October. But their endorsement comes after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., already rejected the bipartisan proposal.
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The legislation the top Democrats support includes $300 in weekly federal unemployment benefits for 18 weeks, $288 billion in fresh funding for the Paycheck Protection small business loan program and $16 billion for testing and vaccine distribution. It also includes a temporary block on pandemic-related lawsuits to allow states to craft their own policies on legal liability.

Senate Republicans have offered their own, much smaller legislation — costing roughly over $500 billion. Their latest proposal includes $332.7 billion for small businesses, $105 billion for schools, and $31 billion for vaccine distribution, therapies and medical supplies. It does not include direct aid for states and local governments, a key priority for Democrats.

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[An example of other reporting on this issue.]

The Washington Post

https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/05/03/congress-coronavirus-legal-liability/

By
Erica Werner and
Tom Hamburger
May 3, 2020 at 9:04 a.m. EDT

Congressional leaders are girding for a huge fight over the reentry of millions of Americans to the workplace, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) insisting that employers be shielded from liability if their workers contract the coronavirus. He appears to have the backing of top White House officials.

   Democratic leaders have declared they will oppose such blanket protections, putting Washington’s power brokers on opposite sides of a major issue that could have sweeping implications for health care and the economy in the coming months. The battle has unleashed a frenzy of lobbying, with major industry groups, technology firms, insurers, manufacturers, labor unions, and plaintiffs lawyers all squaring off.

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And Democratic leaders want to focus their next legislative effort at pumping more money into the economy, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) pointing to $1 trillion in needs for cities and states.

But for McConnell, one of the biggest concerns appears to be the threat of lawsuits against businesses. He has described the potential for a “second pandemic” of litigation, and he and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) say discussion of liability protections will be “absolutely essential.” Democratic leaders, however, have not expressed any interest in advancing such protections at a time when workers are risking their health by laboring at manufacturing jobs, grocery stores, hospitals and other businesses that have stayed open throughout the crisis.

“Providing some kind of blanket immunity shield is an idea that’s the result of the majority leader’s imaginary boogeyman of a flood of lawsuits, a parade of horribles that is a political ploy,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said Friday. He said the proposal would be “a non-starter.”

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In addition to the GOP demand for corporate liability protection, Democrats have demanded more assistance for cities and states, which McConnell says he won’t agree to without liability protections included.

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Hardy pointed to the example of meat packing facilities where workers have been required to stay on the job, in some cases, they say, without appropriate protective gear or in unsafe conditions. Some have fallen ill as a result.

“We can’t be taking these rights away from all of these employees who are doing their best, these essential workers who are doing their best to help us,” Hardy said.

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The National Association of Manufacturers, for example, is asking Congress to limit lawsuits to instances where a manufacturer had actual knowledge that workers could be exposed to the coronavirus and consciously disregarded that information or acted with reckless indifference. The group is also seeking protections to ensure employers can collect and exchange critical information about employees’ health status, and asking for liability shields for manufacturers that are producing protective gear like respirators or masks.

[So why do republicans want to pass a blanket block on such lawsuits, not limiting them to where there was "actual knowledge that workers could be exposed to the coronavirus and consciously disregarded that information or acted with reckless indifference".   If manufacturers produce protective gear that doesn't work because they are cutting corners to save money, why should they be protected?]

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