Day 1419

[matt (Matt Kiser)]

1/ The FDA said Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine “met the prescribed success criteria” for emergency authorization in a clinical study, saying the shot showed “a favorable safety profile, with no specific safety concerns.” The FDA noted that the two-dose vaccine reduced the risk of getting COVID-19 by about half after the first injection. The vaccine was found to be 95% effective after the second dose, three weeks later. The vaccine had several tolerable, short-term side effects, including sore arms, fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, and chills that typically resolved within one to two days. The FDA will meet Thursday to discuss the data and make recommendations in advance of a vote on whether to recommend authorization of the Pfizer vaccine. (Wall Street Journal / New York Times / Washington Post / Politico / NBC News / ABC News)

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This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2020/12/08/day-1419/

[dragonfly9]

Sticking points -Republicans want to get the 'liability issues" for companies and will give $600 in stimulus checks. If R’s do not get the 'liability issues" included, they will eliminate aid to the states and the $600 in stimulus checks.

Pelosi wants $1200 in stimulus checks AND help for the States and limited ‘liablity’ for the companies. She wants a bigger CARES ACT to happen next year.

Where will it end up?

Axios (axios)

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy tells Axios that both he and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told the White House they would support including $600 stimulus checks in a coronavirus relief deal being negotiated in Congress.

Driving the news: The top House Republican said he and McConnell committed to back the amount being sought by the White House during a Tuesday afternoon call with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, in which Mnuchin walked them through his $916 billion plan.

• Mnuchin later issued a statement saying he had presented the details to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and the president’s plan includes money for state and local government and “robust liability protections for businesses, schools and universities.”

Between the lines: McConnell did not include a second round of stimulus payments in the relief framework he released last week. On Tuesday, the Senate GOP leader also proposed removing both state and local aid provisions and a liability shield for businesses — the two most controversial provisions — to focus on passing what both parties agree on.

• But all of those things are in the White House proposal.

McCarthy told Axios that the thinking among the Republican leaders and the White House is that a coronavirus stimulus bill should either include more funding for state and local governments and language on liability protections, or neither.

• “We won’t move state without liability. So they’re either in it together or we drop both,” McCarthy said.
• He added that President Trump agrees with that sentiment, and said he thinks the White House’s proposal “is something that everyone can support.”
• A spokesperson for McConnell declined to comment.