Feb 7, 2018 - Politics & Policy

House passes short-term spending bill ahead of Thursday's deadline

Photo: Win McNamee / Getty Images

The House passed a short-term spending bill on Tuesday in a 245-182 vote to fund the government through March 23, staving off a potential government shutdown on Thursday night.

Why it matters: The real challenge, as we've seen, is in the Senate. And per NPR, the Senate "is likely to change the deal before passing it." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday that he's "optimistic...we'll be able to reach an agreement."

At the White House: Trump said earlier on Tuesday that he'd "love to see a shutdown" if Democrats can't get behind his immigration framework.

  • But, but, but: Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told the press an hour later that Trump "isn't looking for" a shutdown, and that he wants a long-term deal.

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Joann Muller, author of Navigate
7 mins ago - Economy & Business

Boeing research shows disinfectants kill coronavirus on airplanes

Electrostatic spraying of disinfectant. (Photo courtesy of Delta Air Lines)

Boeing and researchers at the University of Arizona say their experiment with a live virus on an unoccupied airplane proves that the cleaning methods currently used by airlines are effective in destroying the virus that causes COVID-19.

Why it matters: Deep cleaning aircraft between flights is one of many tactics the airline industry is using to try to restore public confidence in flying during the pandemic. The researchers say their study proves there is virtually no risk of transmission from touching objects including armrests, tray tables, overhead bins or lavatory handles on a plane.

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Axios
Updated 2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

  1. Politics: Senate Democrats block vote on McConnell's targeted COVID relief bill — McConnell urges White House not to strike stimulus deal before election.
  2. Economy: Why the stimulus delay isn't a crisis (yet).
  3. Health: Studies show drop in COVID death rate — The next wave is gaining steam — The overwhelming aftershocks of the pandemic.
  4. Education: Schools haven't become hotspots — San Francisco public schools likely won't reopen before the end of the year.
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Zachary Basu
2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Senate Democrats block vote on McConnell's targeted COVID relief bill

Photo: Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images

Senate Democrats on Wednesday blocked a vote on Republicans' $500 billion targeted COVID-19 relief bill, a far less comprehensive package than the $1.8 trillion+ deal currently being negotiated between the Trump administration and House Democrats.

Why it matters: There's little appetite in the Senate for a stimulus bill with a price tag as large as what President Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have been calling for. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) "skinny" proposal was mostly seen as a political maneuver, as it had little chance of making it out of the Senate.

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