New jobs report shrinks GOP appetite for more virus aid
WASHINGTON — A stronger than expected jobs report could further scramble an uncertain picture for passing a fifth and possibly final coronavirus aid bill. The statistics are feeding the wait-and-see approach of the White House and its GOP allies in Congress.
Republicans say the numbers vindicate their decision to pause and assess the almost $3 trillion in assistance already approved. The White House was already showing little urgency about pursing another trillion-dollar response bill, much less the $3.5 trillion measure passed by the House last month, and prefers to concentrate on reopening the economy.
The coming weeks are expected to bring difficult negotiations over what the package should contain, just months before an election where the White House and control of Congress are at stake.
Friday’s jobs report showed a 2.5 million gain instead of an expected loss of millions more, complicating prospects for the aid talks. Trump is difficult to gauge, but talks often of pursing public works spending and a payroll tax cut, which is a nonstarter on Capitol Hill.
“They are less than urgent, less than inclined for another package,” said Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., a GOP leader when his party was in the majority. “There is less urgency to go strike a hard deal — and this one would be a hard deal.”
Top Democrats such as Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York are united behind the $3.5 trillion “HEROES Act,” which contains party priorities such as jobless aid, another round of $1,200 checks and money for essential workers, local schools, colleges and people missing mortgages and rent payments.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and other Republicans are opposed to the Democratic plan. But they are struggling with their own divisions, with more pragmatic lawmakers favoring aid to states and local governments and recognizing that additional jobless aid is inevitable if there is to be an agreement.
GOP Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah, Susan Collins of Maine and Cory Gardner of Colorado back a significant state aid package, and there’s strong support across Congress for help for smaller municipalities. But concerns about piling additional trillions of dollars onto the national debt have risen, and some Republicans believe Congress has done enough.
What is plain is that the enormous sense of urgency that produced the first four aid bills has faded, along with the freewheeling dynamic that inflated the price tags. That dynamic helped Democrats to win gains in the $2 trillion CARES Act in March.
“Unlike the CARES Act, where we really did need to act in a matter of days, here we have a little bit of luxury of time, but that time is not indefinite,” said Neil Bradley, chief policy officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Now, Republicans have set a goal of keeping the cost of the next bill below $1 trillion. That’s going to be a hard sell for Pelosi, who devoted almost $1 trillion just to states and localities.
Supporters of a deal had hoped to reach an agreement this month, but acknowledge the annual August recess is now looking more like the informal deadline.
Death toll hits 2,688 out of 62,758 cases
Florida reported 1,270 new COVID-19 infections Saturday, bringing the statewide total to 62,758, along with 28 new fatalities.
The death toll stands at 2,688, which includes four new deaths reported in Central Florida.
The latest update from the state health department fell just shy of a three-day streak where 1,300-plus new cases were reported between Wednesday and Friday.
The sharp increases in cases this week come as most of Florida enters Phase 2 of reopening the economy. Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office credits the upticks to expanded testing. Since the outbreak began, 1,175,106 tests have been administered, with 94.7% of those negative.
Central Florida now has 6,502 cases, and increase of 110 over Friday. There are 46 new cases in Orange County for a total of 2,256; 18 in Polk for 1,145; 13 in Volusia for 804; nine in Osceola for 741; six in Seminole for 521; 14 in Brevard for 453; and four in Lake for 321. With no new cases reported Saturday in Sumter County, the total there stands at 261.
The four new deaths in the region came from Polk and Orange counties, logging two victims each.
The overall Central Florida death toll now stands at 232, with the most in Polk County at 66, followed by Orange with 45, Volusia with 44, Osceola with 20, Sumter with 17, Lake with 15, Brevard with 13 and Seminole with 12.
South Florida, home to 29% of Florida’s population, remains the hardest-hit region, accounting for 54% of cases with 34,063 total. That includes 576 new cases reported Saturday among Miami-Dade (19,299), Broward (7,690), and Palm Beach (7,074) counties. South Florida also has the most deaths at 1469, which is 54.6% of the state’s fatalities. On Saturday, 15 new deaths were reported in the three-county region.
The state’s deadliest day remains May 4 with 59 reported fatalities, according to the Florida Department of Health. In April, the U.S. peaked at nearly 2,300 deaths in one day.
Nationwide, there are over 1.8 million cases with over 109,000 deaths. Worldwide, there are over 6.7 million cases and over 395,000 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center.
Dr. Phillips Center will welcome guests Monday
For the first time in months, the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts will open its doors to guests on Monday, June 8, as summer camps begin at the downtown venue.
Like entertainment facilities around the country, the arts center has been closed in the effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on June 3 that venues such as theaters and concert halls would be allowed to reopen with restrictions such as reduced capacity.
At the Dr. Phillips Center, summer camps will be offered in both in-person and online versions.
The first in-person camp, “Musical Theater Week – On Broadway!” for ages 6-10, already has reached capacity, but future musical camps still have availability. Other offerings through August include a camp in partnership with the comic improvisers of downtown’s SAK Comedy Lab, a concert production of the school version of “Les Miserables” and a camp that focuses on fairy tales.
Participants will find an extensive list of health and safety regulations in place. Among them: Campers will have to fill out a health assessment each day before arriving, undergo a temperature screening before leaving their vehicles, and wear masks when in small groups. The complete protocol can be found at drphillipscenter.org/education/camps.
Most of the region’s theaters and museums offer summer-camp programming. Other arts organizations, such as Orlando Shakes and Theater West End in Sanford, are providing online and in-person options. Orlando Repertory Theatre has a large selection of online camps. Among organizations that specialize in classes and camps for youths, Penguin Point Productions at Oviedo Mall has in-person offerings, while Theatre South Playhouse in southwest Orlando has multiple online options with inperson camps coming later in the summer.
All the organizations say they are following approved health guidelines in light of the coronavirus outbreak.