McConnell killing America
That hundreds of thousands of Americans
have died, and millions more have
been sickened, during the COVID-19
pandemic this year is painful enough. The
economic crisis that came with the pandemic
only compounds the pain.
So why is Senate Majority Leader Mitch
McConnell dabbling in vagaries when it comes
to helping Americans get back on their feet
economically? First, McConnell ignored
Congressional Democrats, and the pleas
of Americans, for months when it came to
providing additional economic aid. Then earlier
this month, McConnell fi nally agreed to
something: a watered down stimulus package
providing $600 payments to every American.
President Trump was barely involved in
the negotiations that resulted in the fi rst
stimulus package. Then he waltzed in to
play the hero and demand an increase from
$600—as agreed upon on Dec 20—to $2,000
in stimulus checks. For a week, he refused to
sign off on any kind of stop gap for the citizens
who spent Christmas wondering if fi nancial
destitution would be their next certainty
before fi nally relenting and signing it Dec. 27.
But Trump’s $2,000 demand caused further
dissension among the Republican rank
and fi le -- bookending a sea change in which
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Trump and Republicans have slowly but surely
fractured.
Way back in the middle of January, only one
lone dissenter—Sen. Mitt Romney off all people—
voted against Trump’s impeachment. It was as if
a gag issue had been ordered, a non-disclosure
order of totalistic obedience signed in a musty
basement prior to all offi cial Senate appointments.
This herd mentality displayed by the very people
who are imbued with power and—are supposed
to— channel the voices of the world’s most diverse
nation. was astounding, and confusing.
In October, an odd thing happened. Republicans
began—via media leaks, and never
actions—to criticize their almighty leader.
It started with Texas GOP Sen. John Coryn
who, in a deeply misogynistic manner, likened
the state of American politics to that of a woman
scorned: “like a lot of women who get married
and think they’re going to change their spouse,
and that doesn’t usually work out very well.”
Now McConnell’s refusal on the $2,000
payment plan further widens the internal
Republican chasm, but at a major cost to
Americans. As usual, they pay the price for
Republican antics. Is it at all possible that
some expediency could be asserted on a fi rm
fi gure stimulus bill to lift one weight off of our
beleaguered shoulders?
Editorial
Op-ed
Where is the vaccine
for Assisted Living
staff and residents?
BY LISA NEWCOMB
From the earliest days of planning
for the development and distribution
of an effi cacious COVID-19
vaccination, those working in our nation’s
congregate care settings for seniors, including
assisted living communities, were
prioritized as fi rst in line to be vaccinated,
and rightfully so: the population they serve
has been universally identifi ed as among
the most vulnerable. In the fi rst months of
the pandemic, a common criticism was that
there was not enough attention or resources
given to long term care settings, including
assisted living, and there was outsized
attention paid to hospitals. Whether it be
PPE, staffi ng or fi nancial assistance, the
hospitals were always fi rst in line. Perhaps,
to some extent, that was appropriate, but
not to the detriment of other vulnerable
sectors. That should have been a valuable
lesson learned as adult care facilities/assisted
living residences continue to suffer
from a lack of resources and a potentially
high incidence of COVID among the frailest
of our seniors.
That’s why we are baffl ed that now, weeks
into the vaccination process, not one assisted
living staff person or resident has received
the vaccine. Yes, we understand that there
is a limited supply, and the decision has
been made to vaccinate other populations
fi rst. But how is it that funeral directors,
hospital discharge planners, fi refi ghters and
other frontline and congregate care setting
staff have begun receiving the vaccine and
assisted living workers serving very frail
elderly residents have not? More shocking
is recent reports that hospitals are hoarding
the vaccine for all their staff and rejecting
pleas to offer it to other critical health care
workers in the community.
This is unconscionable and illogical considering
the vulnerable resident population
served. Assisted living residents and staff
deserve better. Vaccines should be made
available to staff immediately and residents
as soon thereafter as the supply grows.
Otherwise, the state unnecessarily risks a
repeat of the large number of nursing home
resident deaths that occurred in the beginning
months of the pandemic.
Lisa Newcomb is Executive Director of
the Empire State Association of Assisted
Living (ESAAL), comprised of over 300
Adult Care Facilities throughout New York
State, serving more than 30,000 residents.
Contact Lisa at ESAAL 518-371-2573 ext.
203.
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