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Mike Pences controversial skiing holiday in Colorado at the height of the coronavirus pandemic broke federal guidelines and cost cost taxpayers at least $757,000 (544,000) in security costs alone, a watchdog report has revealed.

The then-vice president and his family travelled with at least 48 agents who rented 77 cars durin the trip, according to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (Crew).

Mr Pence, who also headed the White House coronavirus task force, took the trip slopes at Vail, Colorado in December last year when coronavirus cases were surging - even though his task force had put out dire warnings to stay at home over the holidays after Thanksgiving.

Clearly, Pence did not follow the governments advice, and in the process put dozens of Secret Service agents at heightened risk of infection, the report said.

The trip was extended from 23 December to 1 January and included at least 48 agents that contributed to both the high cost and the risk of infection, it added.

According to Crew, the agents rented 77 cars and stayed in several hotels, racking up bills of more than $270,000 (194,000) at the Marriott Vail Mountain and more than $80,000 (57,000) at the luxury Ritz Carlton.

Donald Trumps administration has faced criticism for violating the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.

USA Today reported that the former president and key officials violated the rules at least 27 times from September to October last year.

Several Secret Service officers were infected with Covid-19 while others had to quarantine after coming in contact with infected people as Mr Trump continued his election campaign rallies and travel during the pandemic.

The report noted that Mr Pences travel during the pandemic was not the first that contributed to a higher risk of infection.

Previously in April 2020, Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump also traveled to Mr Trumps Bedminster club despite stay at home orders.

In 2019, Mr Pence traveled to Ireland for government business in Dublin but extended the trip to stay at the former presidents resort in Doonbeg, costing the Secret Service more than $15,000 (11,000).

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Mike Pence skiing holiday at height of pandemic cost taxpayers $757,000, report reveals - The Independent

In the course of the pandemic, health officers have become the face of local government authority. And, in turn, many have become targets for the rage and resentment of some of the same loose-knit militia and white nationalist groups that stormed the U.S. Capitol in January, smashing windows, bloodying officers and savagely chanting Hang Mike Pence.

Kaiser Health News joined forces with the iconic public radio team atThis American Lifetochronicle this disturbing trend through the lens of Californias Santa Cruz County. The county, though widely viewed as liberal and progressive, saw an escalatingsuccessionof threats, capped bythe cold-blooded killing of a sheriffs deputy, that have upended the lives of health leaderstrying to navigate the covid response.

KHNseniorcorrespondent Anna Maria Barry-Jestertells thestoryofDr. Gail Newel,Santa Cruz Countyshealth officer,and her boss, Mimi Hall,the countyshealth services director,whohavesoldieredon aslegitimate debateover their covid-related public health ordershas devolved intovitrioland sinister intimidation.Their daily routines now incorporate security patrols, surveillance cameras and,in some cases, personal firearms.

They are public servants who no longer feel safe in public.

This is KHNs first collaboration with This American Life. It follows similar partnerships with the investigative public radio team at Reveal and St. Louis Public Radio.

Listen to the This American Life audio story, entitled The Herd, here. And read KHNs companion digitalstory here.

About KFF and KHN

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

About This American Life

This American Life is an award-winning weekly public radio program and podcast hosted by Ira Glass. It is heard by 2 million listeners each week on over 500 public radio stations in the U.S., with another 2.8 million people downloading each episode as a podcast. The show is produced in collaboration with WBEZ Chicago and delivered to stations by PRX, Public Radio Exchange.

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KFFs Kaiser Health News and This American Life Team Up for a Chilling Account of the Threats and Menace Upending the Lives of Local Health Officials -...

Jason Sattler, Opinion columnist Published 4:44 p.m. ET April 27, 2021 | Updated 5:39 p.m. ET April 27, 2021

This liberal's plea to 'pro-life' party leaders: Promote the COVID-19 vaccination as an act of patriotism, not partisanship. Help end this pandemic.

There has never ever been a better time for the "pro-life" movement of America to act urgently to, well, save some lives.

America's supply of COVID-19 vaccines will soon surpass demand.Meanwhile Israel, with the most aggressive (yet imperfect) vaccine rollout in the world, has recorded multiple days with zero pandemic-related deathsfor the first time in 10months suggesting that a comprehensive national vaccination program could contain the killer virus that has already killed nearly 575,000 Americans.

Still, some Americans seem to be eager to stand in the way of any hope of what scientists call "herd immunity. Who are those Americans? Mostly Republican menand white evangelicals aka the people whove spent the past 40years or so telling us they are much moreconcerned about life than everyone else.

Nearly all Americans have a chance step up to take a shot that might not only save us but also our families, our neighbors and our countryfrom prolonging the deadliest pandemic in a century. Yet at this Dunkirk moment,elected Republicans have largely done the opposite of joining our armada of "little ships."

Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Rand Paulof Kentucky have spread garbage about the effort to vaccinate as many Americans as possible.Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis acts far more concerned about efforts to make sure people are vaccinatedthan he does about the effects of COVID-19, which has already killed 35,000 Floridians morethan the 32,463-vote marginthat put him in office in 2018.

Donald Trump urged his followers at the Conservative Political Action Conferenceto get their shotsand has made a fewsupportive comments.But when he was still president, in January,he and first lady Melania Trump were vaccinated secretly at the White House. Their off-camera shots, revealed last month, deniedthe country the single most obvious image that might be used to persuade reluctant Trump supportersto join the war on COVID-19.

Former Vice President Mike Pence was among the first Americans to get his shot lastDecember. Since then, he hasbeen busy avoiding nooses brandished by fans of his two-time running mate and getting a pacemaker. Nonetheless, he has found time to try to scaremonger about unaccompanied minors at the border.

COVID-19 vaccine on Feb. 12, 2021, in Connecticut.(Photo: Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)

And Pence isnt alone. The entire Republican Party seems to want the nation to fixate on the tragic number of 18,500 kids arriving alone at the border in March. But the Republicanscant find the same energy to finish off a pandemic still infecting more than50,000 Americans eachday, still orphaning thousands of Americans eachweek.

And whos paying the cost of the GOPs insistence on Joe Biden and his administration almost solely responsible for the biggest public health mobilization in American history? In Michigan, the state withthe worst spike of cases in the nation, we'relearning that the answer increasingly isthe kids.

Just say yes: Are we about to hit a vaccine wall? If you have doubts about getting the shot, reconsider.

Ive spent a lot of my adult life trying to shame pro-lifers into caring about actual children as much as they do about fertilized eggs. While this effort may get you some retweets, it doesnt change the rights behavior in the least. Its like trying to translate Republicans professed affection for Israel into an appreciation of Israels national universal health care.

Im sure President Biden, who has led an awesome nationalized rollout of vaccinations that has exceeded most reasonable expectations, will humbly call for all Americans to join the fight when he addresses Congress on Wednesday. Unfortunately, this clarion call from a man 70% of Republicans think stole the electionwith his tricky strategy of getting over 7 million more votes than Trump mightonly increase Republican hesitancy to get injected.

The rights inherent suspicion of government power, which suddenly reappears when Republicans arent in power, is being compounded by the way COVID-19 was turned into a culture war with the bombastic leadership of the last president. Republican leaders recognize there are few rewards that come with breaking with their partys base. And who wants to help a Democratic president in the task that will largely define the success of his presidency? So were stuck.

Even talking about vaccine hesitancy helps normalize it, especially when its me, a lib, doing it. Would Republicans risk their own voters' lives just to own me? Ask the millions of Americans who have been denied Medicaid insurance because their Republican governors refuse to expand it under the Affordable Care Act even though the federal government is footing almost the entire bill.

We have never been more desperate for Republican heroes who want to save their own constituents' lives, and theyve never been harder to find. Im begging GOP leaders to care as much about their fellow Republicans health and survival as much as this lib does.

Former CDC chief: Think diners, dentists and dollar stores. Make COVID vaccines easy to get.

We may disagree about when life begins, but we can all agree that every American who is 16 and over and now eligible for free vaccines has met that standard. Go out and brag about taking Mr. Trumps shots that were basically invented by Mr. Trump himself (even though the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were already in clinical trials before Operation Warp Speed was even announced).

Do whatever you have to do to make vaccination an issue of patriotism and not partisanship.

Since the sanctity of life is obviously not encouragement enough, think of the next election, the one you are busy trying to rig in state legislatures across the country.If you dont act to defeat this plague when it's possible, your next president could spend his entire term dealing with this pandemic. And if it is who I know you hope it is, we already know how much he hates doing that.

Jason Sattler, a writer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a member of USA TODAYs Board of Contributors and host of "The GOTMFV Show" podcast. Follow him on Twitter:@LOLGOP

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Where are the Republican COVID-19 heroes willing to risk their careers to save lives? - USA TODAY

When President Joe Biden speaks to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, it will look different than presidential addresses in years past with the event taking place amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and heightened security concerns in the wake of the January 6 Capitol attack.

The joint session will be designated a National Special Security Event and there will be a limit on the number of lawmakers in the chamber due to Covid-19 protocols, a Capitol official involved in planning told CNN. Lawmakers will be seated in the upstairs gallery in addition to the House floor and guests will not be permitted. A total of about 200 people are expected to be allowed in the House chamber.

Even the date and timing of the address was affected by the pandemic. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent a letter earlier this month inviting Biden to speak to Congress after previously saying that she was waiting to make a decision on extending an invitation due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

Biden wont be required to wear a mask while speaking on Wednesday, however. House rules require anyone speaking in the chamber to be wearing a mask, but that doesnt apply to Biden because the rules only pertain to lawmakers, according to a senior Democratic aide.

The rule, which took effect on January 4, similarly didnt apply to then-Vice President Mike Pence when he presided over the congressional certification of Bidens victory on January 6.

The House Sergeant at Arms sent a letter on Friday to members offices, which noted that due to Covid and safety protocols, the joint address is invite-only with invitations extended to a limited number of lawmakers. Sources familiar told CNN that Capitol Police initially asked for fencing to remain in place until the address to a joint session of Congress.

Its unclear how many lawmakers per party will attend. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell both are expected to attend.

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, told reporters Monday, I understand its going to be selective seating, so I hope Im there. Asked if hes going, he replied, I dont know. I dont know if I made the cut.

Sen. John Thune, the Republican whip, told reporters that he thinks each Senate caucus will receive 30 invitations to the joint address, and each House caucus will receive 40.

I think right now my understanding at least the way theyre limiting it its like 40-40. 40 Rs, 40 Ds. And then the Senates like 30 and 30, or something like that, Thune said.

The South Dakota senator said he doesnt think that number of invites will be a problem for Republicans, and anyone who wants to attend he thinks should be able to. Thune added, Im sure there are a lot of members who prefer to watch it from their offices or somewhere else.

The letter from the House Sergeant at Arms stated that if a lawmaker does not receive an invitation from congressional leadership, he or she will not be allowed inside the Capitol after 5 p.m. ET on the day of the address.

Many, though not all, congressional lawmakers have been vaccinated. CNN confirmed last month that 189 Democrats out of 219 in the House have been vaccinated, and 53 House Republicans out of 211 have been vaccinated.

In another sign of how the setup will be different this year, first lady Jill Biden wont have a traditional viewing box at Bidens joint session address as coronavirus restrictions limit capacity in the chamber for the speech, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday.

Jill Biden will attend the address to Congress, but due to increased Covid protocols and decreased attendance she will not be bringing guests to sit with her, Jill Bidens press secretary Michael LaRosa told CNN.

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Covid and security precautions will make this year's joint address to Congress different - KNBR

Four business owners in Columbus, Indiana, the hometown of Vice President Mike Pence, share their thoughts on Pence's legacy in the White House. Indianapolis Star

Former Vice President Mike Pence has been a popular topic of conversation lately.

There are reports of Pence being homeless since he is no longer vice president and he sold his Indiana home when he became Indiana's governor in 2013.

Plus, many wonder if he'll still be involved in politics or if Pence is planning to ride off into the sunset.

Former Vice President Mike Pence and his family join him as he gives remarks to a small crowd on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021 at Columbus Municipal Airport in Columbus, Ind. (Photo: Grace Hollars/IndyStar)

Here's what you need to know about former Vice President Mike Pence:

Pence and his wife, Karen, are currently living in northern Virginia where the former vice president has opened a transition office, according to USA Today.

Outgoing presidents and vice presidents are allowed six months of services to complete any official business.

While no exact locations has been given, Pence plans to return to his home state of Indiana this summer, according to IndyStar. He made a quick trip to speak with Hoosiers in Columbus, Ind., on Jan. 20.

"I've already promised Karen will be moving back to Indiana come this summer," Pence said. "There's noplace like home."

Coming to a close: How Pence's hometown views his legacy

Once his vice presidential transition is finished, Pence will be a "distinguished visiting fellow" atthe Heritage Foundation, according to USA Today.

The plan is for Pence to advise policy experts, deliver policy speeches and write a monthly column for the conservative think tank.

Pence credits the Heritage Foundation for shaping his conservative philosophy, as the foundation was used to shape theIndiana Policy Review. Pence was president of the Indiana foundation and a radio talk show host before joining Congress in 2000.

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Pence was pretty emotional during his 15-minute speech in Columbus on Jan. 20.

According to IndyStar, Pence's voice was "cracking" and he was "holding back tears" at the podium.

He congratulated President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris before thanking former President DonaldTrump for his opportunity to "serve the nation."

Donald Trump: What the former President said about Mike Pence on final day

While we don't know what the future holds," Pence said, "we know who holds the future. I'm absolutely confident that the best days, for this one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, are yet to come.

Trump only spoke for about 10 minutes during his final speech as president, according to USA Today. His comments on Pence were very brief.

"I want to thank our vice president, Mike Pence and Karen," Trump said.

In 2019, Forbes reportedPence didn't have much besides $65,000 in index funds and under $15,000 in a bank account. However, his state and federal pensions working as a government official total about $85,000 per year for the rest of his life.

According to Forbes' calculations, those pensions would make Pence worth about $1.2 million but he still owes on a six-figure student loan debt. Factor in a payoff of those student loans, Forbes places Pence's net worth at $1 million.

Chris Sims is a digital sports producer at IndyStar. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims.

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Mike Pence: Where is he, what is he doing in life after ...