Democrats in Washington have sunk to a new low. They should be focusing on an immediate response to an immediate need. Instead they use this crisis to kick Americans when they are down.
President Trump, in a two hour press conference yesterday, expressed frustration at Senate Democrats. The President said that they had an agreement but Democrats wanted to tack on provisions totally unrelated to the immediate need.
Even moderate Senator Susan Collins of Maine was exasperated at Democrat tactics to delay action on a stimulus bill. Senate Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer objected to Collins even speaking which led Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton to shout an expletive, “This is bull***”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell thought they had a bill ready on Sunday. Democrats blocked it. He tried again on Monday. Democrats blocked it. He will bring it back again today.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has been working around the clock with Schumer. Hopefully there will be an agreement by the end of the day.
Someone put it best saying that this is not a bailout, it’s a rescue mission. The President’s plan is focused on the immediate need.
- Small Business retention loans, two weeks of pay to retain workers. This would be a quick cash inflow to small business to continue paying workers for two weeks. When this is over, the loans would be forgiven when the employee is brought back to work.
- Families and individuals will receive a direct deposit quickly to provide immediate cash to the family. Initial figures were approximately $3,000 for a family of four.
- Enhanced unemployment insurance for people laid off. This is in addition to the first two provision for those lines of work that have longer term impacts.
- Up to four trillion dollars for liquidity to support the economy. This would come in the form of loans to larger industries, such as airlines, that have longer term impact. Secretary Mnuchin pointed out that travel restrictions were one of the first and early actions taken by the President.
In addition there is money for hospitals and medical professionals. Mnuchin said, “The best way to get through this is to win this war with this virus.”
The response of Democrats on the other hand has been to see this crisis as a political opportunity. Democrat House Majority Whip James Clyburn told caucus members last week that the bill was “a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision.”
Nancy Pelosi came up with an 1,100 page bill that included such items as:
- Audits of election results
- Airline carbon emissions
- Corporate diversity requirements
- Collective bargaining for Federal workers
- Expansion of wind/solar credits
Meanwhile, in Georgia, as of yesterday, the fatality count is up to 25. There are 772 positive cases in 67 counties. Governor Brian Kemp gave a statement at 5:00 pm yesterday.
In his 20 minute statement, I counted at least 40 specific actions the state is taking. Counties and cities are tirelessly working together for their communities to address this crisis.
It is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Public and private facilities have conducted over 5,000 tests across the state. Agencies have shipped out 532,170 N95 masks, 65,640 face shields, 640,600 surgical masks, 46,740 surgical gowns, 635,000 gloves, and sixty-four pallets of general hospital supplies to sites across the state. The state distributed thirty ventilators to two of the hardest-hit counties: Dougherty and Floyd.
Here in Southwest Georgia, Albany is at the epicenter of the outbreak. The old Palmyra Hospital, now Pheobe North, is being reopened for hospital beds. Officials have identified other facilities that could be used.
Governor Kemp asked federal officials to keep the temporary facility at Dobbins AFB in Marietta open. In Forsyth at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center they completed construction of an isolation zone for up to 20 emergency units. The dorm rooms are being prepared to handle up to 242 patients.
Governor Kemp is cutting red tape to pull in every potential medical professional available. He authorized the temporary licensing of out of state doctors and nurses. He authorized pharmacies to fill prescriptions for 90 days to avoid repeated trips to the pharmacy.
I could go on and on. What a contrast between the leaders in local and state governments and Democrat politicians in Washington, DC.
Cities, counties, and states set aside differences to focus on and fight a war against an invisible virus. On the other hand, in Washington, Democrats waste time and cost families.
Democrats see this as a “tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision.” Senator Cotton put it as plainly as it could be put. “This is bull****!”
Enough with the politics!
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