Republicans Have No Plan to Move Past the Pandemic
This week, the White House repeated the urgent need for Congress to pass additional funding to sustain efforts to fight and control the pandemic. Without it, our ability to fight COVID-19 will be significantly diminished in a matter of days. States would lose access to life-saving treatments, and we would be unable to purchase additional doses of the vaccine. States and local governments rely heavily on support from the federal government to provide these tools to let people live their lives safely.
Some Republicans have questioned the need for this funding, seemingly forgetting that their constituents rely on the free tests, vaccines, and treatments delivered to their states by the federal government. Republicans must stop their political posturing and work with Democrats to pass more funding for COVID-19 relief as soon as possible.
Elsewhere in Republican efforts to prolong the pandemic…
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis whined about the pushback received by his controversial surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, for Florida’s new guidance that children should not receive a COVID-19 vaccine. DeSantis said, “The burden of proof is on the people that say you should get a 5-year-old kid vaccinated for COVID.” DeSantis’ decision to suggest children not get vaccinated comes as data demonstrates how the Omicron surge hit children particularly hard in the United States.
DeSantis’ posturing and political games have prolonged the pandemic. Instead of focusing on making sure Floridians can keep themselves and their loved ones safe, he continues to spread lies and misinformation for his own political gain.
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul continued to seek attention by introducing an amendment that would effectively fire Dr. Anthony Fauci. Senator Paul’s vendetta against Dr. Fauci, a respected public servant with decades of experience, has been dragged out nearly as long as the pandemic itself.
Kansas Republicans revived an attempt to make it easier for people to get dangerous treatments like Ivermectin from their doctor. This is despite the fact that multiple studies prove ivermectin’s ineffectiveness at treating COVID-19.