All aboard the coronabus
By: Cap Action
Tags: Coronavirus, Politics, Trump, Congress, Covid 19

This piece was originally published in the December 21, 2020 edition of CAP Action’s daily newsletter, the Progress Report. Subscribe to the Progress Report here.

Photo by Darren Halstead on Unsplash

“450 pennies a day for the last nine months.”

— Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), fed up with the lack of sufficient federal support throughout this crisis

This holiday season looks different, but there are ways to make sure that we celebrate it safely.

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On Sunday night, the Centers for Disease Control released their next round of recommendations to help states determine who should receive early doses of the coronavirus vaccine. After health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities, this second priority tier includes frontline workers — like teachers, first responders, correctional workers, and grocery store employees — and people 75 years of age or older.

to help states determine who should receive early doses of the coronavirus vaccine. After health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities, this second priority tier includes frontline workers — like teachers, first responders, correctional workers, and grocery store employees — and people 75 years of age or older. One group that was left out of this tier is incarcerated people, who have experienced outbreaks similar to those seen in nursing homes. According to the AP, 1 in every 5 people locked up in state and federal prisons has contracted COVID-19. That’s more than four times the rate for the general population. But while the parallels between outbreaks at nursing homes and prisons clearly point to them receiving equal priority for vaccination, that hasn’t been the case.

According to the AP, locked up in state and federal prisons has contracted COVID-19. That’s more than four times the rate for the general population. But while the parallels between outbreaks at nursing homes and prisons clearly point to them receiving equal priority for vaccination, that hasn’t been the case. Nursing home residents and employees were at the very front of the line to get vaccinated, but only the employees of jails and prisons — not the residents — would be prioritized in the second tier of CDC recommendations. It’s ultimately up to each state to outline their specific plan for vaccination, so be sure to stay up to date with the latest where you live.

but only the employees of jails and prisons — not the residents — would be prioritized in the second tier of CDC recommendations. It’s ultimately up to each state to outline their specific plan for vaccination, so be sure to where you live. President-elect Biden announced additions to his economic team today, rounding out his picks for the National Economic Council. Notable appointments include Obama alum David Kamin as deputy director of the NEC, longtime Elizabeth Warren aide Bharat Ramamurti as deputy NEC director for financial reform and consumer protection, and Joelle Gamble of the Roosevelt Institute as special assistant to the president for economic policy.

rounding out his picks for the National Economic Council. Notable include Obama alum David Kamin as deputy director of the NEC, longtime Elizabeth Warren aide Bharat Ramamurti as deputy NEC director for financial reform and consumer protection, and Joelle Gamble of the Roosevelt Institute as special assistant to the president for economic policy. A statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee was removed from the U.S. Capitol early this morning. Prior to its removal, the statue had stood in the nation’s capital for 111 years before Virginia’s governor pushed for it to be removed as part of a reckoning with America’s brutal history of racism and white supremacy. Lee will now be replaced by Barbara Johns, who in 1951 spoke out about her segregated school in Farmville, VA and became part of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case which ruled school segregation unconstitutional.

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