Senate GOP proposal is not a serious economic stimulus plan

The one thing America does not need right now as we slide into a potential global depression is more corporate welfare tax cuts. The Republican 2017 corporate welfare tax cut bill has already put the U.S. in a difficult financial bind to respond to this quickly developing economic crisis. But Republicans only know one tune, … Read more

Straight talk from an infectious disease expert on the coronavirus pandemic (updated)

Michael T. Osterholm is Regents professor and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, and coauthor of “Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs” (2017): For decades, Osterholm has been in the business of telling people what they don’t necessarily want to hear: Pandemics are inevitable; outbreaks … Read more

Legislature to pass a bare bones budget and adjourn sine die?

Republican leaders announced Monday the Arizona legislature plans to pass a basic spending plan and a series of “noncontroversial”  bills before they may recess or adjourn sine die as a way to mitigate the effects of the growing COVID-19 pandemic. Does this mean they will jettison the controversial package of election bills and tax cut bills? … Read more

Fed moves fail to reassure panic in the financial markets

In an emergency move on Sunday, the Federal Reserve announced it is dropping its benchmark interest rate to zero and launching a new round of quantitative easing. Federal Reserve cuts rates to zero and launches massive $700 billion quantitative easing program: The Federal Reserve, saying “the coronavirus outbreak has harmed communities and disrupted economic activity … Read more