As I watch business owners whine about COVID restrictions, I wonder how many of them supported Republicans like Sen. Dan Sullivan with their votes, words and money. Every country on Earth has handled the disease better than we have. Most have done so by shutting down places where the virus spreads: bars, restaurants, gyms, theaters, etc. Then the government pays the businesses and employees who are shut down. Congress did this earlier this year, ($1,200 checks for every adult and larger unemployment checks, as well as grants to help businesses pay their bills). Without this relief, our country would likely be in a depression.
As these programs expired, Nancy Pelosi and Democrats in the House of Representatives passed another relief bill that Mitch McConnell refused to bring to the Senate floor for a vote. He claimed that Senate Republicans had no appetite for another relief bill. So Pelosi and the Democrats passed a much smaller relief bill. McConnell again refused to bring the bill to the floor of the Senate for a vote. If an adequate relief bill came to the Senate floor, all Democrats and many Republicans would vote for it’s passage. Even President Donald Trump told Congress to “go big” on a relief package. Only Mitch McConnell stands between the American people and relief.
It is said that the most important vote that a senator will make is their first vote. Dan Sullivan’s first vote will be to reelect Mitch McConnell as Republican leader. So everyone who voted for Sen. Sullivan also voted for Sen. McConnell to lead the Senate. While I do have compassion for anyone hurt by this COVID-19 shutdown, I don’t feel sorry for people who support Republican intransigence on financial relief for the country. To quote my mom: You made your bed, now you must lie in it.
— John Farleigh
Anchorage
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