Press release issued 11.20.20
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate health committee, and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, joined U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and their Democratic colleagues in calling on General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Emily Murphy to end her unprecedented delay, immediately ascertain Vice President Joe Biden as President-elect and Senator Kamala Harris as Vice President-elect, and make available the transition resources that are provided by law. This delay creates unacceptable risks to national security and pandemic response efforts as the United States passed more than 250,000 deaths, including more than 2,600 in Washington state according the state Department of Health.
“The United States is in the midst of a pandemic that has now claimed over 250,000 lives, with the number of new cases rising daily. Our country also faces a number of ongoing threats, including physical and cyber attacks from foreign actors, violence from domestic extremists, and natural disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes,” wrote the Senators.
“The GSA Administrator’s ascertainment of a President-elect is also critical for agencies’ willingness to share information with the transition team, including classified information, as well as for the expeditious processing of security clearances for candidates for high-level national security positions. Your delay in acknowledging Vice President Biden’s status as President-elect could undermine efforts by the incoming Administration to meet the needs of the American people in a time of national emergency,” continued the Senators.
Under the Presidential Transition Act, GSA is charged with providing resources and support to the President-elect and Vice President-elect so they can be ready to govern from Day One. Administrator Murphy must complete the ascertainment process to allow the President-elect’s transition team to receive needed information from agency officials at public health and national security agencies, ensure incoming national security officials can receive background checks and access to classified information and provide federal funding and resources to support the transition process.
A smooth and efficient transition is one of the hallmarks of American democracy. With the exception of the Presidential election in 2000 and the resulting recount, ascertainment by GSA normally happens within a day after a winner is declared, including in 2008 and 2016. The bipartisan 9/11 Commission found that the shortened transition following the 2000 recount created serious vulnerabilities, including delays related to key national security appointments.
Washington Courts: News and Information
New Judicial Branch Award Highlights Innovations that Keep Courts Working and Responsive
November 23, 2020
Press release issued 11.23.20
http://www.courts.wa.gov/newsinfo/?fa=newsinfo.internetdetail&newsid=40765
The Washington State Board for Judicial Administration (BJA) has announced the first recipients of its new Innovating Justice Award, which recognizes leadership during the COVID crisis that promotes judicial branch innovation as well as responsiveness to race equity and access to justice issues.
The recipients of the new award provided leadership in launching task forces, developing unique programs, revamping community services, responding to significant distress and questions about racism in the criminal justice system, and in working relentlessly to maintain both safety and access to justice.
“The judicial branch has faced separate, historic challenges this year related to widespread health dangers and to soul-searching questions about race and justice,” said BJA Co-Chair Judge Gregory Gonzales of Clark County Superior Court. “In response, courts and individuals are working in uncharted waters, innovating and adapting and finding new ways to keep justice operational and responsive. The BJA wanted to recognize these efforts and we look forward to hearing about all of the creative work we don’t know about yet.”
The 2020 recipients of the BJA Innovating Justice Award include:
Washington State Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra L. Stephens for her wide-ranging and inclusive response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as her leadership in responding to nationwide demonstrations against racial injustice. In responding to COVID, Chief Justice Stephens instituted weekly calls with judges and court officials across the state, established a partnership with state health officials, crafted Supreme Court orders on court operations to provide information and guidance to courts, launched the Resumption of Jury Trials Work Group and then the BJA Court Recovery Task Force. In response to nationwide calls for racial justice, Justice Stephens and the members of the Supreme Court quickly issued a statement and call-to-action for courts and judicial branch members to take responsibility for eradicating bias in the judicial system, a rare statement from a sitting court. “Chief Justice Stephens has made racial equity and access to courts a constant lens through which to filter all measures adopted to deal with the immediate COVID crisis and on which to build better processes in the future,” said the letter nominating her for the award. “Her leadership has helped to make racial equity a top priority in all of our work.”
Tukwila Municipal Court for reframing its probation department in response to community comments and a concern that the department reflect collaboration and support rather than a punitive nature. Judge Kimberley Walden led the change of the probation department to the Court Support Services office, while changing the titles of probation officers to Case Managers. The Court Support Services office also provides a unique and cost-effective treatment for domestic violence offenders that was recently offered on Zoom in order to maintain the service. “We understand the impact words and the meaning of those words have on people. Judge Walden began to think about Tukwila’s operations, and changes we can make to address the concerns of the public,” said the nominating letter. “We are seeing a different response when a person is told they are being assigned a case manager in our Court Support Services division who will provide assistance and connect them to resources that will ultimately help them to stay in compliance with court orders. Their sense of relief speaks volumes. Now when they meet with their case manager they look forward to goal setting, realistic expectations, mentorship, and compassion. They also understand that consequences for most missteps will be measured and designed to promote positive outcomes.”
Benton-Franklin County Superior Court Judge Jacqueline Shea-Brown, for her leadership of the Unlawful Detainer Work Group and its development of a unique new diversion program that requires problem-solving steps and supports in advance of the legal eviction process. Only the third known program of its kind in the nation, the Eviction Resolution Program is designed to help both landlords and tenants and reduce the number of people evicted and facing homelessness, with many of these situations caused by the economic effects of the pandemic. Development of the program involved experts and advocates from many different sectors creating many new elements, and Judge Shea-Brown tirelessly coordinated and supported it all. “Judge Shea-Brown led the disparate interests represented on the Work Group to many consensus agreements, addressing issues both small and large,” said the nominating letter. “Today, judges have been trained, bench cards and related materials produced, and the Eviction Resolution Program is about to go into operation in six pilot counties. None of this could have occurred without Judge Shea-Brown’s steady and consistent leadership.”
Walla Walla County Superior Court Judge John W. Lohrmann for his determined outreach to his court’s large percentage of Hispanic court users who need interpreters, to communicate about the COVID closures and pauses, and his quick and extensive actions to make the courthouse and work of the court safe. Judge Lohrmann directed court interpreters to directly contact Hispanic court clients to explain both the changes in court operations and to provide information about COVID itself. If a court user could not be reached, Judge Lohrmann kept the hearing on the docket with interpreters so the court client would not be turned away, and in some cases he went to extensive lengths to explain the nature of COVID and why it was impacting a family’s case. Judge Lohrmann also acted immediately and extensively to install safety equipment and new procedures, and to adjust hearings with nearby Walla Walla State Penitentiary to protect the prisoners, attorneys and court staff from exposure. “Judge Lohrmann, several years ago, had the foresight to embrace technology, [which] enabled us to immediately facilitate Zoom hearings with the necessary large interactive screens and have a printer in the courtroom for exhibits, and to carry on the Court's business remotely almost immediately,” said the nominating letter. “His foresight in this regard has proven to be invaluable in many ways, but certainly, as he is retiring in this year of the pandemic, it has made all the difference in the world to so many, many people who have come before him.”
MORE STATE HEADLINE NEWS...
More industry groups join those lobbying Gov. Inslee to reconsider new restrictions--THE OLYMPIAN
https://www.theolympian.com/news/coronavirus/article247305524.html#storylink=hpdigest_politics
Emergency rules allow Washington state school districts to redefine school time. Do they go too far?--Seattle Times
Wash. Supreme Court grants farmworkers overtime pay--Seattle PI
Explaining how Gov. Inslee has the power to cap third-party delivery fees---MY NORTHWEST
https://mynorthwest.com/2325980/inslee-third-party-delivery-fees-cap/
IN OTHER NEWS HEADLINES...
WORLD NEWS:
Carbon dioxide levels hit new record; COVID impact ‘a tiny blip’, WMO says
Levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere hit a new record of 410.5 parts per million in 2019, and are expected to keep rising this year, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said in its annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin on Monday. UN NEWS CENTER
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/11/1078322
Afghanistan: UN’s Grandi and Bachelet put plea for lasting ceasefire top of their wishlist
Two top UN officials called for an end to the long-running conflict in Afghanistan on Monday, telling a major conference in Geneva that normality could only return to the country if there was a sustained ceasefire. ---UN NEWS CENTER
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/11/1078342
Somalia at a crossroad, UN envoy urges ‘deepened’ political consensus
The “broad political consensus” reached in September that ended a two-year stalemate in Somalia must be “preserved and indeed deepened”, the country’s UN envoy told the Security Council on Monday. --UN NEWS CENTER
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/11/1078352
Secretary Pompeo’s Meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Cale Brown:
Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo met today with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at NEOM in Saudi Arabia. Secretary Pompeo and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed the strong bilateral security and economic partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia and the progress made under the U.S-Saudi Arabia Strategic Dialogue held last month in Washington. They discussed the need for Gulf unity to counter Iran’s aggressive behavior in the region and the need to achieve a political solution to the conflict in Yemen. Secretary Pompeo expressed support for Saudi Arabia’s economic and social transformation under the Vision 2030 plan and emphasized the importance of continued human rights reform and strengthening of civil society.--US STATE DEPT.
NATIONAL HEADLINES:
Medal of Honor Monday: Marine Corps Gen. Christian Schilt--DOD
Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim Issues Statement Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg
Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Department of Justice Antitrust Division issued the following statement on his participation in the Robert H. Jackson Center’s virtual reading of Justice Jackson’s opening statement at Nuremberg for the 75th anniversary of the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg:
“I was honored and humbled to be a part of this project marking 75 years since the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg. Justice Robert Jackson, who was the Chief U.S. Prosecutor at Nuremberg and once held the position of Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division, has long been a hero of mine for his boundless faith in justice and fairness. His work at Nuremberg showed the world that unspeakable acts of hatred will not go unpunished so long as there are good people willing to stand up for the powerless. In my role overseeing the Antitrust Division, I draw on this faith and commitment to justice to guide our work defending American consumers.”
COVID-19 Travel Health Notice Levels and Testing for International Travelers.
On Saturday, November 21, CDC revised the Travel Health Notice system for COVID-19 and released new recommendations for testing before and after international air travel to help the public make informed decisions for safer, healthier, and more responsible travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/s1122-covid-travel-health-international-travelers.html
Science is Saving the Mangrove Forests
Mangrove forests along the coastlines in the Asia-Pacific region provide building materials for traditional homes, shelter fish and wildlife, protect communities from tsunamis and typhoons, and store more carbon than any other forested ecosystem in the world. Despite all they do for humans and the planet, mangrove forests are threatened by over harvesting and rising sea levels.--USDA
https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2020/11/20/science-saving-mangrove-forests
BUSINESS & FINANCE:
IRS announces procurement research partnership to improve contracting processes--IRS
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service's Office of the Chief Procurement Officer today announced a research partnership with Data and Analytic Solutions, a small business located in Fairfax, Virginia. The partnership also includes a group of academic researchers with a goal to use data science to improve IRS procurement operations.
FTC Approves Administrative Complaint Against Supplement Marketer Health Research Laboratories, LLC---FTC
MORE NEWS ON THE VOTER FRAUD Case:
Why Did Donald Trump Cut Sidney Powell From His Legal Team?--PJ MEDIA
Frank Luntz: Trump's Attacks Could Disillusion Georgia Voters--NEWS MAX
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/luntz-trump-georgia-runoff/2020/11/23/id/998368/
‘One kind of fraud’: Biden won thousands of illegal votes by noncitizens, study shows--Washington Times
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/nov/22/joe-biden-won-illegal-votes-thousands-noncitizens-/
Election Fraud Problems Are A Threat To Our Country — And Too Important To Be Left To Conspiracy Theorists--The Federalist
TODAY'S VIDEO
No, The Government Does NOT Have A Right To Cancel Thanksgiving...
No, The Government Does NOT Have A Right To Cancel Thanksgiving.…
From the Donald Trump Team
https://www.facebook.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/videos/112195480620931
OFFICIAL ELECTION DEFENSE FUND!
