Beltway Insider: Biden, American Jobs Plan, SCOTUS, COVID/Vaccine, Immigration Costs, Prince Philip

President Biden continued his efforts to reshape America marching forward into the more complex areas by determining his authority on increasing the size of the United State Supreme Court, forgiving student loans and gun control.

The President's job approval rating, according to the website fivethirtyeight.com, for the period ending April 11, 2021, decreased by 0.3% to 53.6% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness decreased by 0.3% percentage points to 39.6%. A slight 3% of the population polled have no opinion. Ratings are calculated weekly.


Beltway Insider: Biden’s New Deal, Capitol Attack, Jobs, COVID Totals, Vaccine, Cuomo, George Floyd, G. Gordon Liddy


Biden's Continues to Reshape America

President Biden moved this week into the more difficult areas of his America's Rescue Plan as he formed commission to investigate the expansion of the Supreme Court and his executive powers to forgive student loan debt and the epidemic issue of gun-violence.

United State Supreme Court's Future

Reshaping the United State Supreme Court, which has received attention over the last two decades, gained momentum this week with the appointment of an 36 member Presidential Commission of distinguished Constitutional scholars and others with knowledge of the Federal judiciary to produce a report detailing specifics on the role and operation of the Supreme Court.

In a released statement The President stated the commission would provide "An account of the contemporary commentary and debate about the role and operation of the Supreme Court in our constitutional system and about the functioning of the constitutional process by which the President nominates and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoints Justices to the Supreme Court."

"Biden picked two chairs to lead the commission: New York University School of Law professor Bob Bauer, the former White House Counsel under former President Barack Obama and Yale Law School Professor Cristina Rodriguez, a former Justice Department official and clerk to former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor," Foxnews.com reported.

While the commission is still in the formation phase, it is expected the remainder of the committee members will be announced in the next week. The Committee has six months to prepare the report.

Student Loan Forgiveness

President Biden asked The U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona this week to conduct a legal review to determine his authority for widescale student loan forgiveness.

"While the report is not expected for several weeks, the legal review is expected to answer at least one key question: whether the president can unilaterally cancel student loans by executive order without any further congressional authorization. Here is what the memo may say about student loans and student loan cancellation," Forbes.com reported.

The president has already enacted legislation that has forgiven more than $2.3billion to special groups with the Student Loan debt system.

Beginning with those who had some level of partial student loan forgiveness, on March 18, the president cancelled the remaining balance for some 72,000 borrowers. He followed this action with an additional forgiveness for 41,000 borrowers.

His piecemeal approach to wide scale forgiveness could influence Congressional action, if needed. When the President receives the report, which is not due for weeks, the expectation remains that the President will have four possibilities which include forgiveness by executive order, total forgiveness, partial forgiveness, and congressional approval for forgiveness.

What is certain President Biden is seeking to determine his options as he continues to rescue Americans and reshape America's future.


Justice Watch: And They Got Away With It (Part 4)


American Jobs Plan

Secretary of Transportation, and former Democratic Presidential Candidate, Pete Buttigieg held a press briefing this week to present aspects of the infrastructure plan unveiled in President Biden's American Jobs Plan.

Buttigieg presented an overview of American dedication to infrastructure, the heydays of big builds when America addressed the needs to create an system which opened the highways and byways, the towns and cities across America to increased commerce, transportation hubs, cross country travel and leisure to currently after years of underinvestment the United States has currently fallen to thirteenth globally. Essentially our infrastructure is crumbling.

"The American Jobs Plan will again transform America's roads and bridges, rail and transit, ports and airports for the better. It's going to help modernize our transportation infrastructure so we can compete in the 21st century and connect communities.  It will create millions of good jobs in communities across the country.  I want to point out again that this is the biggest investment in American jobs since World War Two," Buttigieg said during the press brief.

In some cities infrastructure systems are more than one hundred years old and have received patch work repairs only when water mains break or when the extensive use has created decay and erosion. Seven bridges throughout America, critical to key transportation statics, commerce, employment,

He also addressed the jobs that this plan will deliver. Skilled trades, steel workers, electrician, plumbers, pipefitters, construction workers, laborers, operating engineers, the need will eclipse the great build of the 20th Century.

Congressional Support

Congress need only to a cursory review of infrastructure needs to understand while many of the major arteries, thoroughfares, and bridges has past the centennial mark or quickly approaching and more than a band-aid is needed to boost America back globally, to a position of dominance.

The American Jobs Plan needs congressional approval.

"At the end of the day, the President's red line is inaction.  He won't tolerate inaction on rebuilding our nation's infrastructure, something that has long been outdated.  He believes that we need to invest in that so we can improve the lives of ordinary Americans and make it easier to do business.  He also believes that investment — investments in long-term economic growth will create good-paying jobs," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.

Vaccine Totals

Globally the vaccine total distribution has increased by more than 110million over the past week. That daily distribution rate fell by 1million.

Bloomberg.com has built a vaccine tracker which can be seen here. "More than 768 million doses have been administered across 154 countries, according to data collected by Bloomberg. The latest rate was roughly 17.7 million doses a day." An additional 18million people worldwide have received at least one dose of the vaccine of their choice. In the United States, the newest weekly numbers represent an increase of 26,891 daily doses.

"So far, 183 million doses have been given. In the last week, an average of 3.11 million doses per day were administered," Bloomberg.com reported.

"In the U.S., the latest vaccination rate is 3,111,327 doses per day, on average. At this pace, it will take another three months to cover 75% of the population," reported Bloomberg.com.

Coronavirus Totals

While the infection rates of the coronavirus have continued to decline around the world. A new strain, a mutation, has created global concern for leaders around the world are determining the best direction for the protection of the population. The importance of maintaining personal protective practices is imperative to controlling the spread.

For the week ending April 11, 2021, coronavirus cases globally, increased by 20,900 cases to 4,367,800 confirmed cases, bringing the total of confirmed cases worldwide to 135,232,300 people with a total worldwide death toll of 2,926,400 deaths, a weekly increase of 78,300. (Data from The New York Times).

COVID US Totals

Infections rates in the United States are also on the rise. For the week ending April 11, 2021, the total confirmed cases rose to 31,171,400 people with new confirmed cases increasing by 451,000 with an average of 64,428 cases daily over a seven-day period. The coronavirus has claimed 561,200 total deaths, a one week increase to 6,700 deaths, increasing the previous week's total by 500 deaths. (Data from The New York Times).

Illegal Immigration Continues at Record Numbers

Brazen boatloads of illegal immigrants have continued to cross the Rio Grande River which borders the southern boundary of the United States. Helicopter footage for weeks have shown up to ten inflatables filled to overflowing making the crossing every ten to fifteen minutes. The influx of illegals is unprecedented.

In the past two weeks, the plight of unaccompanied children has received national media attention.

A minor found wondering alone this week, in a deserted stretch of desert on the United States side of the southern border, told a harrowing tale of kidnap and extortion and then left for dead, was found by U.S. Border Control agents. He has since been reunited with family, although his mother is still held for ransom.

Previously, coyotes, the human traffickers responsible for smuggling millions of illegals across the southern border revealed a particularly brutal nature as they were photographed via night vision dropping two toddlers, 14feet over the border barrier wall, into the barren, brutal desert at night, alone. The girls were found, unharmed, and reunited with their mother in New York.


State Department Releases COVID Report


Uncle Sam's Trust Fund

The cost of providing shelter for the record number of apprehended unaccompanied minors during fiscal year 2021, those 17 and younger, is a whopping $60million per week.

"With a record number of unaccompanied minors arriving at the border in the past several weeks, HHS quickly filled the 7,700 available beds in its network of permanent shelters, where the cost of caring for a child is about $290 daily and capacity reduced by covid protocols. The administration has raced to set up at least 10 large emergency facilities, creating 16,000 temporary beds for migrant children in convention centers, converted oil worker camps and on military bases. About 8,500 children are living at these pop-up sites, and 4,000 more are waiting to be transferred from cramped border facilities," reported The Washington Post.

The outrageous $24,000 monthly spend per child is akin to living off Uncle Sam's trust fund and good graces.

U.S Families First

"The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated the average annual expenditures for a family at $60,060 in 2017. This amounts to around $5,005 per month. Conversely, the Internal Revenue Service publishes national standards for expenditures on necessities such as food, clothing, and basic hygiene supplies, but not including housing or transportation. Cost can vary from one area of the U.S. to the next. A family of four living in Dallas, for instance, will see a monthly cost of living of $6,291, while a family in San Francisco can plan to spend about $12,370 per month," Pocketsense.com reported.

The Border Wall

Further construction on the Border Wall which many Southern Border agents had previously stated contributed greatly to the drop in illegal immigration has be paused.

"Wall construction remains paused, to the extent permitted by law.  So some has already been funded through a congressional authorization and funding allocation.  But as agencies develop for a plan — it's paused while agencies are developing a plan for the President on the management of the federal funds. When the administration took office, as you referenced, funds had been diverted from congressionally appropriated military construction projects and other appropriated purposes toward building the wall," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said during a press conference.

Prince Philip, Husband of Queen Elizabeth II, Dies

His Royal Highness Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, husband to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, passed away this week. He was 99.

The Royal Family announced the passing via Twitter @theroyalfamily, "It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh."

Married to Queen Elizabeth II for 73 years, The Prince has recently been released from a one-month hospitalization for treatment of an infection and pre-existing heart condition.

Funeral arrangements have been announced. Due to the current mass gathering restrictions thirty members of the Royal Family will be in attendance. The service will be held at St. George's chapel on April 17, 2021.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced an official eight days of mourning, which began on the immediate news of Prince Philip's passing.


Prince Philip, Husband of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Dies


Tributes praising his dedication to service, devotion to family, commitment to altruism, and enthusiasm for life from Heads of State, World leaders, the United Kingdom's Commonwealth of Nations home to 2.4billion people, and the many lives he affected throughout his life.

"On behalf of all the people of the United States, we send our deepest condolences to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the entire Royal Family, and all the people of the United Kingdom on the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. Over the course of his 99-year life, he saw our world change dramatically and repeatedly. From his service during World War II, to his 73 years alongside the Queen, and his entire life in the public eye — Prince Philip gladly dedicated himself to the people of the UK, the Commonwealth, and to his family," President Biden said in a released statement.

Former President Barack Obama praised His Royal Highness via twitter, "Through his extraordinary example, His Royal Highness Prince Philip proved that true partnership has room for both ambition and selflessness — all in service of something greater. Our thoughts are with Her Majesty the Queen, the Royal Family and the British people."

Former President Donald Trump also paid tribute to Prince Philip in a statement that the death of the Duke of Edinburgh "Prince Philip defined British dignity and grace. He personified the quiet reserve, stern fortitude, and unbending integrity of the United Kingdom" and is an "irreplaceable loss for Great Britain, and for all who hold dear our civilization," Yahoo!news reported.

According to the BBC, Her Majesty The Queen has received condolence telegrams from Australia, New Zealand, Pope Francis, The Dalai Lama, President Xi Jinping of China, King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, Sweden's King Carl Gustaf, The Dutch Royal Family, Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Pakistan's Prime Minster Imran Khan, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta, Zimbabwe, Malta's Prime Minster Robert Abela, Israel Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu, The Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, France's Foreign Minster Jean-Yves Le Drian, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, and Irish President Michael D. Higgins,

"In a telegram to the Queen, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the duke had "rightfully enjoyed respect" both at home and internationally. Chancellor Angela Merkel said the duke's "friendship with Germany, his straightforward nature and his sense of duty" would be remembered. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed her sympathy to the royal family and "the people of the United Kingdom on this very sad day." Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the duke had "contributed so much to the social fabric of our country - and the world," the BBC reported.

Although the Duke of Edinburgh is entitled to a full state funeral, he impressed his wishes for minimal "fuss" and as such the ceremony commemorating his passing will include a military funeral at St. George's Chapel and a burial at Frogmore Castle.

A spokesperson for the family has announced the in-person ceremony will be limited to thirty including members of the Royal Family and invited guests. It has not been announced if the service will be televised or any other electronic attendance will be available.

In accordance with current mass gathering regulations, there will be no public gathering. Although the public has been discouraged from laying flowers at the gates of Windsor Castle, the British Public have persisted in showing their gratitude for his life of service. Various other military tributes have continued through the Commonwealth of Nations.

He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and four children, HRH Prince Charles, Duke of Cornwell, HRH Anne, Princess Royal, HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, numerous grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

 

For more information on President Joe Biden www.whitehouse.gov.

Sources: Various © Articles covered by Copyright protection

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