Republicans

Newsweek reports: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said he wasn’t aware that asymptomatic people could transmit coronavirus as he announced he was preparing to issue a state-wide shelter-in-place order. Kemp had resisted imposing tougher measures to tackle the pandemic, but on Wednesday he joined other Republican governors including the leaders of Florida and Mississippi in announcing he would sign a stay-at-home …

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports: Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday said he is preparing a statewide shelter-in-place order across Georgia to try to curb the spread of the coronavirus, a turnabout after weeks of balking at taking more drastic steps to combat the pandemic. The new rules, which he will issue Thursday, are set to run from Friday through April 13. …

CNN reports: Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday his state was willing to accept Floridians on board a cruise ship seeking to disembark in Florida after more than 190 guests and crew reported flu-like symptoms, including eight passengers who tested positive for Covid-19. But DeSantis expressed concerns about taking in others given the state’s limited hospital beds. “We are going to …

Biloxi’s ABC News affiliate reports: Governor Tate Reeves has signed a new executive order establishing a statewide shelter-in-place for Mississippi to slow the spread of COVID-19. Tuesday, a number of cities across the state issued their own orders asking residents to stay at home, and establishing curfews for overnight hours. Wednesday, the Mississippi Department of Health reported 1,073 confirmed cases …

Orlando’s ABC News affiliate reports: After days of mounting pressure as the coronavirus spreads in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis Wednesday issued an executive order asking people to stay at home across the state. Across Florida, the state health department reports nearly 7,000 cases of COVID-19 as of noon Wednesday, with more than 900 people hospitalized and 87 deaths. About 900 …

The Atlantic Journal-Constitution reports: U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s most recent financial disclosures show that millions of dollars in stocks were sold on her behalf at the same time Congress was dealing with the impact of the coronavirus. The largest transactions — and the most politically problematic — involve $18.7 million in sales of Intercontinental Exchange stock in three separate deals …

Mediaite reports: Congressman Devin Nunes (R-CA) stated that it is “overkill” for schools in his home state of Califonia to be closed in light of the coronavirus pandemic on Laura Ingraham‘s Fox News program late Tuesday night – further downplaying the severity of COVID-19. “The schools were canceled here in California, which is way overkill. It’s possible kids could’ve went …

Politico reports: Sen. Rick Scott on Tuesday called for a congressional investigation into the World Health Organization, suggesting the U.S. should cut off its funding for “helping Communist China cover up” the full extent of the coronavirus pandemic. The Florida Republican, a noted China hawk, has long raised concerns about the WHO’s relationship with Beijing, which has undercounted the number …

The Hill reports: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday blamed the Democrats’ push to impeach President Trump in January for distracting the Trump administration from the threat posed by the coronavirus. “It came up while we were tied down in the impeachment trial. And I think it diverted the attention of the government because everything every day was …

Business Insider reports: Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin called to reopen parts of the American economy to avoid throwing it into a recession or depression. He said “death is an unavoidable part of life” in a USA Today op-ed published Monday. Though Johnson didn’t advocate to fully start up the economy, he said the crisis should be put into …

CNN reports: The Justice Department has started to probe a series of stock transactions made by lawmakers ahead of the sharp market downturn stemming from the spread of coronavirus, according to two people familiar with the matter. The inquiry, which is still in its early stages and being done in coordination with the Securities and Exchange Commission, has so far …

The Texas Tribune reports: Gun stores are essential business and should be allowed to remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said today. Paxton said in his nonbinding opinion that state law prevents cities and counties from “adopting regulations related to the transfer, possession, or ownership of firearms, or commerce in firearms.” In a radio interview …

The Oklahoman reports: Former U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, a physician who became a powerful force in Congress on fiscal matters, died early Saturday morning after a long fight with prostate cancer. He was 72. Coburn, of Muskogee, served in the Senate from 2005 to 2015 and in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001. After leaving the Senate, …

Just in via press release: Earlier, this week, U.S. Representative Mike Kelly began experiencing flu-like symptoms and consulted his doctor, who ordered a test for COVID-19. His test came back positive this afternoon. From his home in Butler, Pennsylvania, Representative Kelly issued this statement: “When I started experiencing mild flu-like symptoms earlier this week, I consulted my primary care physician. …

MarketWatch reports: Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky said Friday in a series of tweets that he would make a move that looks likely to delay the House’s vote on a huge coronavirus stimulus package. He said he “will request a vote on the CARES Act which means members of Congress will vote on it by pushing ‘yes’ or ‘no’ …

NBC News reports: Democratic and Republican leaders were scrambling members of Congress back to Washington late Thursday because they suddenly believe the $2 trillion economic relief package might not pass by the voice vote planned for Friday and could be delayed if at least 216 members don’t show up to vote on the floor. Members are now racing to get …

From the editorial board of the Charlotte Observer: Seven days have passed since news reports revealed how U.S. Sen Richard Burr profited off the coronavirus while failing to warn his constituents at the early, critical stages of the crisis. It has not been a good week. Burr has been abandoned by fellow Republicans, some of whom have called for his …

The Lexington Courier-Journal reports: A Congressman from Kentucky plans to vote “no” on the $2 trillion coronavirus relief package, which the Senate passed 96-0 Wednesday evening. U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican who represents Kentucky’s 4th District, also hinted that he might object to a voice vote in the House of Representatives, which would force all members to return to …

The Missoulian reports: A mystery of the 2020 election was solved Tuesday as it became clear the Montana Republican Party paid for an effort to qualify the Montana Green Party for the ballot this election. Earlier this year paid petitioners appeared in Montana’s larger cities gathering signatures to qualify the Greens to run candidates this cycle, even though the Montana …

The Associated Press reports: North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer apologized Wednesday for a late-night tweet in which he used an offensive term to describe House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Cramer blamed autocorrect for the tweet, which he deleted soon after posting it Tuesday evening. The Republican senator was responding to a video clip on Twitter in which Pelosi, D-Calif., was being …