Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Legislators Raise Red Flags About COVID-Relief Bill
The Hill: Hawley Urged Trump To Veto Coronavirus Deal Without Direct Payments
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) on Monday said he urged President Trump to veto any coronavirus agreement that doesn't include another round of direct payments to Americans. "I'm continuing to be flummoxed as to why there aren't any direct payments. Everybody supported this in March. It's the most useful, helpful and frankly popular aspect. So I told him that, and ... I encouraged him to veto it," Hawley said about his conversation with Trump, which took place over the weekend as the president was traveling back from Georgia. (Carney, 12/7)
CNN: Economists To Bernie Sanders: Don't Kill The Relief Bill Over Stimulus Checks
Washington is nearing a breakthrough on a desperately needed federal relief package that could keep the fragile economic recovery intact. But Senator Bernie Sanders is furious the bipartisan legislation is not expected to include stimulus checks. Sanders threatened Friday to oppose the yet-to-be-released legislation, arguing it is "wrong morally" and economically not to provide $1,200 payments to working-class families at a time when "hunger in America is exploding." (Egan, 12/7)
The Hill: Warren Signals Concerns About Bipartisan Coronavirus Framework
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) signaled concerns on Monday about the framework of a bipartisan coronavirus relief package, the latest sign of skepticism from progressives in both chambers. Warren, speaking to reporters in the Capitol, stressed that there isn't even legislative text on the bicameral framework, but raised red flags over several areas including a GOP push for protections from coronavirus lawsuits. (Carney, 12/7)
In related news from Capitol Hill —
KHN: Senate Republicans Throw The Brakes On Timing For Becerra Hearings
Senate Republicans are signaling they will delay considering President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee to run the Department of Health and Human Services, threatening to slow the Biden administration’s response to the pandemic that has killed more than 283,000 Americans. On Monday, Republican spokespeople for the committees responsible for vetting HHS nominations said the Senate may not hold hearings on California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, Biden’s pick to lead the department, until the Senate approves committee assignments and other organizational details for the new Congress. (Huetteman, 12/8)
CNN: Republicans Invite Discredited Vaccine Critic To Testify Before Senate Panel
Senate Democrats are outraged that a witness invited to testify before a congressional hearing on Tuesday is being given a public platform for her discredited ideas that could endanger the US response to the coronavirus pandemic. They say Dr. Jane Orient is a vaccine skeptic who has promoted the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19 patients, despite the Food and Drug Administration stating that it should not be used to treat coronavirus patients and has criticized the federal government's role in urging Americans to get vaccinated against the virus. (Rogers, 12/7)
