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| Unleash Prosperity Hotline Issue #15 1) McConnell says No Blue State Bailout In another ace Hugh Hewitt interview, McConnell said: “I would certainly be in favor of allowing states to use the bankruptcy route. It saves some cities. And there’s no good reason for it not to be available. My guess is their first choice would be for the federal government to borrow money from future generations to send it down to them now so they don’t have to do that. That’s not something I’m going to be in favor of.” https://www.hughhewitt.com/senate-majority-leader-mitch-mcconnell-on-what-comes-next/ That’s great news because states want up to $1 trillion to plug shortfalls in their budgets and pensions. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy was less than amused. “That is completely and utterly irresponsible and I don’t care what party you’re in,” he ranted at reporters. He said he supports Congress passing a $500 billion blue state bailout. https://www.insidernj.com/appalled-murphy-excoriates-mitch-mcconnell-bankruptcy-comments/ New Jersey is one of the most spendthrift states, with lavish pensions for government workers that are only 38 percent funded according to S&P. Giving states like New Jersey an open-ended bailout will reward decades of profligacy under cover of crisis. If they can’t meet their obligations, bankruptcy is a better option. 2) Harvard Caves to Trump, Will Return the Loot On Tuesday, President Trump said Harvard University should return the $8.7 billion in emergency federal funding it has received. Trump had noted the elite institution has an eye-popping $41 billion endowment and vowed they were “going to pay back the money.” Harvard shot back moments after Trump spoke with a rebuttal that it planned to keep the money… but Harvard backed down yesterday afternoon, claiming implausibly “it did not apply for this support, nor has it requested, received or accessed these funds.” Nor is Harvard alone. Stanford University has announced it won’t be needing the $7.4 million in DC cash it was due to receive. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos thinks other schools should follow their example: “Schools with large endowments should not apply for funds….It’s also important for Congress to change the law to make sure no more taxpayer funds go to elite, wealthy institutions.” 3) Why are vital surgeries considered non-essential services? One of the most destructive features of the lockdowns is that non-COVID medical services have been banned, forcing doctor’s offices and hospitals to layoff or furlough employees or even close completely — in preparation for a surge of COVID patients that outside of New York, hasn’t shown up. So we have empty hospitals while patients who need surgeries and other treatments are postponed indefinitely. Dr. Benjamin Domb, a hip and orthopedic doctor in the Chicago era, warns: “We are in grave danger of pushing aside every aspect of medical care that is not related to COVID-19, and if we do not act quickly…the conditions we are ignoring may incur a human cost that could far overshadow that of the virus.” https://www.dailyherald.com/submitted/20200417/local-orthopedic-surgeon-talks-about-secondary-health-care-crisis-from-covid-19-pandemic A reminder of just how brutal the tradeoffs involving COVID-19 can be came yesterday, when it was revealed that for five days starting April 17, New York State had in place a blanket do-not-resuscitate order that instructed EMS not to revive patients without a pulse. It finally ended yesterday after public outrage. https://www.foxnews.com/us/new-york-state-instructs-paramedics-not-to-revive-cardiac-patients-amid-coronavirus-crisis-report At least New York faces a real resource crunch. Most of the country has empty hospitals while needed surgeries aren’t being performed. There has been some positive movement: California Governor Gavin Newsom announced yesterday he is now “encouraging hospitals and health care systems to begin to reintroduce medical care delayed due to the virus,” and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey will allow non-COVID procedures starting May 1. We think providers, not politicians, should decide which medical services are essential. 4) Rick Bright Deserved Demotion The latest media Trump hate spasm is over the demotion of Rick Bright as director of HHS’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) — he claims in retaliation for his efforts to block doctors from prescribing hydroxychloroquine for outpatient use. Trump of course says he never heard of the guy. The best explanation we’ve seen is from epidemiologist Chris von Csefalvay on Twitter. Some excerpts: “Whether #hydroxychloroquine works for #COVID19 or not, it should be for scientists to test it, not for Dr Bright to unilaterally determine what is and isn’t sound science. This is an appalling strategy to distract from BARDA’s failings on #coronavirus. “Restriction of HCQ to hospitalised patients has ZERO basis in science. Protocols may prescribe a baseline and +6h/+12h 12-lead ECG, and in patients with prolonged QTc, telemetry is advisable, but ruling out outpatient use has no evidence at ALL to support it. “In sum: it’s hard to see Dr Bright’s dismissal as anything other than what it is – due criticism of his work, which as a scientist one must endure – and as what he wishes it to be seen – a courageous last stand. It is not. It’s hard to see his actions as anything but political.” https://twitter.com/chrisvcsefalvay/status/1253059868107378694 5) Hero of the Day: Adam Fortney Snohomish County is the third largest county in Washington state with over 800,000 residents… and it voted for Hillary by 16 points in 2016. The sheriff there is finished enforcing Gov. Jay Inslee’s lockdown order.. He will not enforce stay at home Snohomish County Sheriff Adam Fortney said: “I just watched the Governor’s speech to Washingtonian’s regarding our approach to getting Washington back in business and I am left to wonder if he even has a plan? “As your elected Sheriff I will always put your constitutional rights above politics or popular opinion. We have the right to peaceably assemble. We have the right to keep and bear arms. We have the right to attend church service of any denomination. The impacts of COVID 19 no longer warrant the suspension of our constitutional rights. “Along with other elected Sheriffs around our state, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office will not be enforcing an order preventing religious freedoms or constitutional rights. I strongly encourage each of you to reach out and contact your councilmembers, local leaders and state representatives to demand we allow businesses to begin reopening and allow our residents, all of them, to return to work if they choose to do so. “The great thing about Snohomish County government is we have all worked very well together during this crisis. I’m not saying we agree all of the time, I’m saying we have the talent and ability to get this done for Snohomish County! This is not a time to blindly follow, this is a time to lead the way.” https://www.facebook.com/adamfortneyforsheriff/posts/2754200934627471 6) Anti-Hero Of the Day: Andrew Cuomo A reporter asked Cuomo what he’d say to New Yorkers who want to go back to work because they’re close to being broke. Using his finest Marie Antoinette impersonation his reply was “Economic hardship doesn’t equal death.” As if those were the only choices. Then he snapped: “You want to go to work? Go take a job as an essential worker.” But Cuomo’s office has itself defined that essential workers are transit, childcare, health care, cleaning service, and postal employees. Many of those are unionized government jobs and have no openings, or they require special skills. As to the others, a cursory search for New York City didn’t turn up digital classified ads for new positions. We realize Cuomo has to defend his lockdown, but sneering at people who can’t make ends meet shouldn’t be part of his shtick. https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-cuomo-offers-advice-to-shutdown-protesters-job-20200422-3sbv26zfg5a4dm7i3rw6swhd6q-story.html 7) This is extremely accurate  |
