Welcome to Wednesday, October 21st, tenors and sopranos...

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On the Radar

Senate Dems Block PPP Small Business Funds

The Senate remains at an impasse over coronavirus relief measures, as votes held Tuesday on another infusion of funding for the Paycheck Protection Program failed to break the gridlock.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) offered a motion to table (i.e., “kill”) a bill that would allow small businesses to receive a second round of forgivable loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The $258 billion package would include unused funds left over from a prior authorization of the PPP that can’t be accessed because Congress hasn’t extended the application deadline, which lapsed in August. 

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) offered a motion to table the motion to proceed to a bill offered by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) to protect pre-existing conditions, which he argued would allow the Senate to vote on House Democrats’ $2.2 trillion relief package. 

The motion wasn’t agreed to in a 45-52 vote that went along party lines, with Democrats voting in favor of tabling and Republicans opposed.

Should the Senate approve another round of PPP funding for small businesses?

Under the Radar

AZ May Legalize Marijuana for Adults

Proposition 207 would legalize the possession and use of marijuana for adults in Arizona. Medical marijuana has been legal in Arizona since 2010, but recreational use remains illegal.

This ballot measure would also allow individuals to grow up to six marijuana plants in their homes, with the requirement that the plants be in a lockable enclosed area outside public view.

Additionally, this ballot initiative would make the Arizona Dept. of Health Services (DHS) responsible for adopting rules to regulate marijuana. This would include licensing marijuana retail stores, cultivation facilities, and production facilities.

Existing nonprofit medical marijuana dispensaries and potential marijuana businesses in counties with one or fewer non-profit dispensaries would be given precedence for DHS licenses.

Under a Social Equity Ownership Program (SEOP), this ballot measure would issue licenses to entities whose owners are from communities disproportionately impacted by the enforcement of previous marijuana prohibitions.

Do you support legalizing marijuana use and possession for adults in Arizona?

And, in the End...

And, in the End…

It's Reptile Awareness Day.

What's your favorite North American reptile?

I'm partial to Gila Monsters, whether or not they meet you at the airport,

—Josh Herman

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