Aug 3, 2017

Budget director: WH will back a "clean" debt ceiling hike

Alayna Treene

Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

President Trump's budget director, Mick Mulvaney, told reporters Thursday that the administration is on board with supporting the "cleanest possible" debt ceiling increase, and will no longer seek spending cuts, per CBS News. Mulvaney had previously pressed for the cuts as part of the deal, but he ultimately agreed with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on a clean hike.

Why it matters: The move could put the White House at odds with its party, as members of the Tea Party and House Freedom Caucus have been publicly advocating for the cuts.

The Senate is expected to break for August recess on Thursday, and the House left for the month-long break last Friday. Meanwhile, the debt ceiling hike needs to be passed by the end of the 2017 fiscal year, or Sept. 30, to avoid a government shutdown.

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  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 1:30 p.m. ET: 887,067 — Total deaths: 44,264 — Total recoveries: 185,541 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 1:30 p.m. ET: 190,740 — Total deaths: 4,127 — Total recoveries: 7,141 — Map.
  3. Federal government latest: Vice President Mike Pence said that White House modeling suggests "Italy may be the most comparable area to the United States" in terms of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
  4. State updates: Florida and Pennsylvania are the latest to issue stay-at-home orders, totaling 34 states and D.C.
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Axios

West Virginia is latest state to delay primary due to coronavirus

Photo: Barbara Davidson/Getty Images

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice rescheduled the state's May 12 primary election to June 9 on Wednesday, citing fears surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, AP reports.

Why it matters: 23 other states and the District of Columbia haven't held primaries yet. The White House is recommending, for now, that Americans practice social distancing and gather in groups of no more than 10 people — while many states have issued stay-at-home orders.

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Rashaan Ayesh

Florida governor issues stay-at-home order

Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered a statewide stay-at-home order on Wednesday after the number of coronavirus cases in the state rose to nearly 7,000.

Why it matters: DeSantis has been criticized for declining to order any statewide mandates to curb the spread of coronavirus as Florida — home to a significant elderly population — has increasingly become a hotspot. The order will go into effect at midnight and last for 30 days.

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