Mitch McConnell’s Do Nothing Republicans Are Killing You | Robert Reich
the senate has adjourned and left town without even trying to pass a covid disaster relief bill by the time they return on november 30th based on current trends an additional estimated 16 000 americans will have died from covet 19. we pay these elected officials to keep us safe and they have failed us to them i ask how much death and suffering must the american people endure before you act [Music] remember house democrats passed a comprehensive relief bill all the way back in may you mitch mcconnell have refused to lift a finger for months and senate republicans have been happy to follow your lead countless americans are now paying the price for your malicious inaction you should have learned lessons about covet during its first horrific wave last spring first there is no trade-off between covid and the economy no way we get the economy back until kovitt is under control as the virus surges and more shutdowns loom the millions of jobs we've added since april are about to disappear again i've said this since march and i will say it again the only way to get our economy back to full strength is to control the virus second more shutdowns are necessary businesses like tesla in alameda county california and tyson meat packing plants in iowa they remained open during previous shutdowns and both companies suffered covet outbreaks no exceptions this time around third and most importantly shutdowns are only viable if accompanied by disaster relief so americans can survive financially so pass disaster relief re-up expanded unemployment benefits the extra 600 a week provisioned in the cares act expired on july 31st and all federal relief will expire on december 31st expanded unemployment benefits were a financial lifeline for millions during the first and second waves and must be instituted again to keep millions out of poverty this winter don't listen to those who claim that we have to get people back to work or keep them working the best way to stop the spread is to pay people to stay home stop evictions and foreclosures it would be the height of cruelty to force even more people out on the streets in the middle of winter as the virus surges and with more job losses around the corner we must ensure that a missed rent or mortgage payment isn't a death sentence you also need to distribute another round of paycheck protection program loans to businesses with strict oversight to ensure the funds actually go to businesses that need them not massive publicly traded companies that have plenty of other options shore up state and local budgets state and local governments are facing huge budget shortfalls without federal aid vital public services are on the chopping block schools child care supplemental nutrition mental health services low-income housing health care when the public needs them more than ever and local governments need funds to shelter unhoused residents especially as temperatures drop and covid intensifies protect essential workers tens of thousands of workers on the front lines have contracted covid over the past 10 months including nearly 20 000 amazon warehouse workers at a minimum they need generous hazard pay and paid sick leave and this must be mandated when the last coveted relief package was passed on march 27th there were 18 093 new cases that day now there are over a hundred fifty thousand new cases every day with hospitalizations lagging behind cases and deaths lagging behind hospitalizations it's clear that this is going to get much much worse unless people shelter in place but most americans can't do this without relief the writing is on the wall do your job mitch mcconnell our lives depend on it
