Page 6 - Florida Sentinel 4-24-20

Political News
How Some Rich Americans Are Getting Stimulus ‘Checks’ Averaging $1.7 Million
Student Calls For Obama To Deliver Virtual Address To America's Class Of 2020
A high school senior is hop- ing for a unique commence- ment address for the Class of 2020 in the age of coronavirus -- one delivered virtually by former President Barack Obama.
Lincoln Debenham, 17, a graduating senior from Eagle Rock High School in Los Ange- les, tweeted late Tuesday urg- ing Obama to deliver a "national commencement ad- dress" digitally to replace schools' canceled ceremonies as much of the nation hunkers down at home.
"Like most high school/col- lege seniors, I'm saddened by the loss of milestone events, prom & graduation. In an un- precedented time, it would give us great comfort to hear your voice. We ask you to consider
BARACK OBAMA
giving a national commence- ment speech to the class of 2020," Debenham said in his tweet, which had nearly 95,000 likes and more than 20,000 retweets as of Wednesday.
Katie Hill, spokeswoman for Obama, said they were aware of the tweets and "very flattered" but declined to com- ment further.
Sen. Lindsey Graham Outraised By Challenger Jaime Harrison In Q1
Jaime Harrison, a Demo- crat from South Carolina look- ing to replace Sen. Lindsey Graham in the United States Senate, has outraised the cur- rent incumbent by more than a million dollars in the first quar- ter of 2020.
According to fundraising re- ports filed by the Federal Elec- tion Commission (FEC) this week, Harrison brought in more than $7.3 million from January to March, while Gra- ham brought in a little more than $5.6 million. Harrison’s campaign noted in an email to
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM AND JAIME HARRISON
ESSENCE that the former sen- ior aide to House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn received contributions from voters in all 46 South Carolina counties during the first three months of 2020.
A $1.7 million stimulus check?
While wealthy Americans are not eligible for the com- paratively measly $1,200 stimulus checks that are now being disbursed to many Americans, they are on pace to do even better. 43,000 tax- payers, who earn more than $1 million annually, are each set to receive a $1.7 million windfall, on average, thanks to a provision buried in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
You may or may not be surprised that some of the
language conveniently in-
serted into the $2.2 trillion- dollar Coronavirus Aid, Re- lief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) skews heavily in favor of the wealthy. The provision doling out literally millions of dollars is aimed at a limitation that was created in 2017 when Republicans overhauled the tax code. It “temporarily suspends a lim- itation on how much owners of businesses formed as “pass-through” entities can deduct against their non- business income, such as capital gains, to reduce their tax liability,” according to The Washington Post.
Michael Cohen Released From Prison Early Due To Coronavirus Crisis
Donald Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen is being released from prison early due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, according to reports from CNN and the Associated Press.
In December 2018, Cohen was sentenced to three years in a federal prison after pleading guilty to numerous charges, including finance fraud for Trump’s 2016 campaign, tax fraud, bank fraud and lying to Congress. He has been serving time at a federal prison in Otisville,
MICHAEL COHEN
N.Y., and will serve the re-
mainder of his sentence under home confinement.
Before being released early, Cohen will undergo a 14-day quarantine. Federal data show that 14 inmates and seven staff members have tested positive at the Otisville prison where he is currently located.
Cohen had previously at- tempted to be sent home early after serving only 10 months of his sentence, but a federal judge denied his re- quest. He originally was scheduled to be released in November of 2021.
Take A Break Mom! Michelle Obama Will Read Children's Books To Your Kids
For many parents, it’s been at least 30 days of working from home while home- schooling children during self-isolation due to the novel coronavirus. And many moms out there need a break. Thankfully, our forever first lady Michelle Obama has got us covered. (It comes as no surprise!)
Mrs. Obama has teamed up with Penguin Young Readers, Random House Children’s Books and PBS
MICHELLE OBAMA
Kids to read children’s books to kiddies across the globe in an initiative called, “Read To-
gether, Be Together.” Starting on Monday at 12
noon Eastern, “Mondays with Michelle Obama” will kick off, featuring Mrs. Obama reading one book for four weeks until Monday, May 11. Books include The Gruffalo by Julia Donald- son; There’s a Dragon in Your Book by Tom Fletcher; Miss Maple’s Seeds by Eliza Wheeler; and The Very Hungry Cater- pillar by Eric Carle.
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