Vice President’s Tie Breaking Vote to Advance Biden Coronavirus Bill Closer to Passage

 During the wee hours of this morning Senate Democrats  were busy at work on the 1.9 Trillion pandemic relief package proposed  by President Joe Biden which includes provisions for a $1,400 payment to individuals, $400.00 per week federal unemployment benefit, $350 billion for state and local governments, a minimum wage increase to $15.00 per hour and more money for child care, schools and vaccine distributions. The budget resolution passed the Senate in a 50-50 party-line vote which will allow Democrats to pass coronavirus relief without Republican support. Voting was very close. In fact, Vice President Kamala Harris cast her first official vote as a Senate tie breaker at 5:30 a.m. tipping the scales for Democrats at least at this stage. Since changes were made to the resolution it will go back to the US House of Representatives where lawmakers will need to pass it for a second time. 

Senate approval of the budget resolution followed a vote-a-rama that lasted from 2:30p.m. on Thursday and ended at 5:30 a.m Friday morning. By the way there were a grand total of 800 amendments that had been filed as of Thursday night.

Good to see progress being made on coronavirus relief. Keeping the entire voting process lifted up in prayer. Many are waiting on congress to get this accomplished so that they can get tangible assistance in hand. 

 

Inaugural Gospel Concert Makes a Joyful Noise in Celebration of Biden-Harris

If any of you missed the Inaugural Gospel Celebration, “A Night of Inspiration and Unity”, you missed a good show. But you can still view segments of performances by some of your favorite gospel artists on the You Tube channel. See preview above.

It was a cavalcade of gospel greats, a star studded virtual inspiration from beginning to end with strong performances from Tasha Cobbs Leonard who was first to perform in the line up, singing “Break Every Chain” and “You’re Gonna Get the Glory”, Jonathan McReynolds who sang an energetic and upbeat “I’m Not Lucky, I’m Loved” without his guitar. He still sounded great as he entered into call and response with the audience who joined in singing with him. Also performing were Koryn Hawthorne with “Won’t He Do It”, L’Andria Johnson, “This is My Exodus”, Tye Tribett lit up the stage with “We Gonna Be Alright”,Todd Dulaney, JJ Hairston, Dietrich Haddon, Fred Hammond, Marvin Sapp, Keke Wyatt who sang a traditional hymn “Blessed Assurance”. Hezekiah Walker was also there with his full choir. The concert was hosted by Anthony Anderson with special guests fellow Howard University alum Taraji P. Henson. They bantered back and forth a little about both being Howard alums like the Vice President.  Morris Chestnut and LaMann Rucker were also there as special guests. Pastor Shirley Caesar made a special presentation from her living room joining the concert via video tape. 

It was a show that made me proud to be a gospel music fan as I realized how much talent came together for an amazing demonstration of inspiration and unity for the country’s newly elected and long awaited President Biden and VicePresident Harris, the nation’s first woman and first black to hold that position. The music was fitting for the occasion.

Listen to an audio blurb about the event on my podcast at this forthcoming link.

An Alicia Keys Documentary by Mercedes Benz

Kirk Franklin, Jonathan McReynolds and Kelly Price at BET Awards

 Our video pick of the week is a clip of  BET’s Award Show broadcast June 23, 2019. Podcast episode forthcoming with a summary of the show.

Jonathan McReynolds, Erica Campbell and Kelly Price open the awards show and sing with Kirk Franklin in a special rendition of Kirk Franklin's "Love Theory” from his 2019 CD release “Long Live Love.”

46th President of the US, Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris Take Oaths of Office in Peace and Light

 

President elect Joe Biden took his oath of office at 12Noon today sworn in by Chief Justice Roberts following the swearing in of Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black woman to serve as Vice-President of the United States by the first Latina woman to sit on the Supreme Court, Justice

Sonia Sotomayor. It was an inauguration ceremony that was blessed with apparent clear skies,  spiritually soothing  performances by Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Garth Brooks and our nation’s elegant wordsmith, first National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman. The 22-year old made history as the youngest inaugural poet and shined brilliantly while reciting her poem ending in a poetic call to not only have the courage to see the light  but also to become the light. President Biden’s pastor friend of 30 years from his home state of Delaware pictured in the above video, Rev. Dr. Sylvester Beamon gave the prayer and benediction.

It was a welcome sight to see the Capitol grounds in an orderly and peaceful state, visibly free of troops after all the media build up and tension about them. The inaugural stage was very peaceful.It was an entirely different scene than the one of two weeks ago in which riotous crowds stormed the grounds and forced their way into the Capitol building.

President Biden gave a comforting and very sincere address inspiring an atmosphere of unity and togetherness, neighbors working together earnestly helping one another. I got the sense that he really meant what he was saying. Moreover, and more importantly, I believed him. His plain talk and honest direct speech reassured me that our country is in good hands.