In recent days it appears Governor Abbot is moving closer to closing the state of Texas with a "stay at home" order. Recently the death toll in Texas surpassed 5000 (click here). If there are additional stay at home orders, be it Texas or otherwise, the needs of the people will not have changed.
Let me remind that when the first legislation was passed in the US Congress, a bill from the US House provided for employers to maintain their payroll and that it would be a grant rather than a loan if the businesses were open by July 25th, if memory serves. Well, July 25th is here and gone and the number of cases in the USA is still climbing and deaths are still accumulating. I might point out some of those deaths were due to states reopening too soon and people returning to their jobs when there was still danger.
The first attempt to end the virus' spread, the science as directed by the CDC was assaulted by President Trump. I don't want to hear how the CDC was first stating the masks would not help. This was long before masks became an issue and the science behind wearing them changed to accommodate changing conditions of the people and the continued spread of the virus. The fact that COVID-19 is still a problem is due to presidential lies and political deceptions.
The first effort would have worked beautifully and this second round of monies not even necessary if the science wasn't undermined for political purposes. In those days, Trump was denying there was even a problem and the virus was shut down by one plane full of people from China. Then Oregon exploded and nursing homes came into focus. In the beginning, entire segments of families were dying because of the poor response by leadership.
Texas has become another cautionary tale amid the pandemic. (click here)
The point is the circumstances have not changed but the US Senate wants to pretend the people are not returning to work because of the unemployment they are receiving. There are complaints about people not seeking work because the businesses sincere about their attempts to ride the wave with their employees are now facing the July 25th deadline and their employees are too scared to come back. These businesses took those loans in good faith that July 25th actually meant something and expected their loans to be converted to grants. For those businesses, employees returning or being hired are vital to protect their operations. The complaints aren't about lazy people, they are about loans that won't convert to grants.
...The enhancement was designed (click here) to keep laid-off people at home instead of out looking for work during the pandemic-fueled lockdowns and has helped millions pay the rent, buy groceries and cover other bills. But it has also kept some workers on the sidelines -- creating headaches for employers trying to get back up and running, even as new coronavirus surges complicate state reopenings....
Kudlow has it all wrong.
NO ONE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR WORK DURING A PANDEMIC. If the programs to take care of Americans aren't in place they will risk their lives to work and provide for their families.
THAT IS A HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION!
There is no returning to work because Trump decided to create fear to enhance his re-election bid and that was more important than a healthy country.
I don't know what a $1200 bonus is going to solve except it will tide Americans over while the GOVERNMENT ONCE AGAIN GETS IT ACT TOGETHER.
There is no returning to work if states like Texas are looking at a shutdown that will last 16 days or more.
What are the Senate Republicans interested in the health of Americans or creating more fear, because they are plenty fearful of this virus and a White House run amuck?
Governor Abbot is correct in mandating masks to be worn at all times and returning to a stay at home order. It might be if his plans work, Texas may be seeing a huge downturn in virus cases and A SUSTAINED low rate by the time school rolls around.
Sixteen days of a shutdown is far less expensive than continuing to fund political rhetoric that keeps Americans sick and dying.
Any new legislation MUST INCLUDE that cities and states CANNOT BY LAW exceed the capacity of their hospitals during any reopening.
This next legislation, Senator Schumer, needs to be far tougher on states and municipalities to protect citizens. That means staying at home orders must stay in place until the virus is under control. That takes monies not just to citizens, but, to state and local governments. If this next legislation does not achieve the end of the spread of the virus, this tragedy will continue into next year.
No American wants to stay home without working. They have lost their health benefits because of it. That is another issue that faces the July 25th date. The businesses that are complaining about people not working are afraid of the debt load that loan will compel them to pay rather than a grant and without those continued funds they will not be able to maintain their health insurance either.
TRUMP ROYALLY SCREWED UP THE FIRST RESPONSE TO THE VIRUS AND THAT IS THE ONLY REASON WE ARE STILL FACING AMERICANS FEARFUL FOR THEIR HEALTH AND LIVES.
Moscow Mitch is not going to get away with calling Americans lazy when he and Trump have neglected their responsibility in maintaining an anti-virus stance.
The political rhetoric will stop.
NOW!
This was supposed to be over by July 25, 2020. It isn't!
