Jan 31, 2019 - Politics & Policy

GOP blocks resolution condemning use of shutdowns as negotiating tactic

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. Photo: Aaron P. Bernstein via Getty Images

The House on Wednesday failed to pass a symbolic resolution that condemned the use of government shutdowns as a negotiating tactic, with Republicans blocking the measure from gaining the two-thirds support necessary to pass.

Details: As Roll Call notes, a two-thirds majority was required because Democrats brought the resolution under suspension of the rules, which is usually used to pass non-controversial measures. Democrats amended the resolution to strip out language that referenced President Trump's role in the recent 35-day shutdown, but Republicans nonetheless rejected it as a "political stunt" and a "glorified press release."

Go deeper: House approves 2.6% raise for federal workers after Trump freezes pay

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Axios

Updated 4 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 9:30 p.m. ET: 20,207,011 — Total deaths: 738,910— Total recoveries: 12,452,222 — Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 9:30 p.m. ET: 5,140,512 — Total deaths: 164,502 — Total recoveries: 1,714,960 — Total tests: 63,252,257 — Map.
States: Georgia reports 137 coronavirus deaths, setting new daily record — Florida reports another daily record for deaths.
Health care: Trump administration buys 100 million doses of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine.
Business: Moderna reveals it may not hold patent rights for vaccine.
Sports: Big Ten scraps fall football season.
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Axios

Updated 46 mins ago - Health

World coronavirus updates

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins; Map: Axios Visuals

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it's too early to say whether next month's elections will be postponed after she announced Tuesday four people had tested positive for COVID-19 after no local cases for 102 days.

Zoom in: NZ's most populous city, Auckland, has gone on lockdown for 72 hours and the rest of the country is under lesser restrictions.

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Rashaan Ayesh

3 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Voters cast ballots in Minnesota, Georgia, Connecticut, Wisconsin and Vermont

Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Primary elections are being held on Tuesday in Minnesota, Georgia, Connecticut, Vermont and Wisconsin.

The big picture: Georgia and Wisconsin both struggled to hold primaries during the coronavirus pandemic, but are doing so again — testing their voting systems ahead of the general election. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) is facing a strong challenger as she fights for her political career. In Georgia, a Republican primary runoff pits a QAnon supporter against a hardline conservative.