In times of crisis some people put aside their own fears and step in to help others. The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is starting a new feature called “Profiles in Courage” to recognize folks selflessly helping others during this pandemic. We will be highlighting individuals inside and outside of the government. Our first profile focuses on a Chinese doctor who tried to warn the world about the Coronavirus. This inaugural profile could not be more timely because the country lost a true hero last week - Sen. (Dr.) Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). Sen. Coburn was many things to many people. To some he was a doctor who delivered their baby, and to others he was a father and a husband. He was also a taxpayer hero. He fought valiantly against earmarks and wasteful spending. He never looked at wasteful spending through a political or partisan prism. His fight against earmarks was waged at a time when it wasn’t “cool” to fight earmarks. Sen. Coburn was one of a handful of members of Congress who had the courage to take on the Republican and Democratic establishments. He took on members of his own party and was relentless in his fight. Sen. Coburn was also a personal hero of mine. In my 27 years in Washington, D.C. I haven’t run into many elected officials who I consider to be true heroes. We will miss you Sen. Coburn. Your legacy will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace.
Profiles in Courage…Dr. Li Sacrificed His Life Trying to Save Others
For the inaugural “Profiles in Courage,” TPA is highlighting and celebrating the life of noted Chinese doctor Li Wenliang, who risked and ultimately gave his life to help Coronavirus victims in China while being persecuted by his own government for doing so. The taxpayer-funded World Health Organization (WHO) dropped the ball early and should have listened to Dr. Li instead of starting a campaign defending the Chinese government’s inactions.
Dr. Li was a well-regarded ophthalmologist at Wuhan Central Hospital, which saw some of the first cases of COVID-19 in late 2019. The physician started to notice a disturbing pattern in December and took to social media to warn fellow doctors about a mysterious, SARS-like illness that had infected Wuhan patients. Dr. Li urged healthcare workers to take necessary precautions, including wearing protective clothing. While the ophthalmologist’s early warnings are now common knowledge, the Chinese government at the time was determined to cover up the novel Coronavirus as much as possible. Chinese security police promptly put Dr. Li and 7 other medical professionals under investigation for “spreading rumors,” and retaliatory actions only escalated from there. Less than a week after warning his fellow doctors about COVID-19, Dr. Li was hauled before the security police and accused of "making false comments" that had "severely disturbed the social order.”
Dr. Li was threatened by the police for these crimes against the state and even reprimanded by Wuhan Central Hospital for the grave offense of warning his countrymen about the Coronavirus. He was even forced to sign a statement agreeing to stop his “illegal” activities. But all the police threats, intimidations, and reprimands by the Chinese government could not stem the spread of COVID-19, which started rapidly spreading from Wuhan in January. In fact, January 9 marked the first COVID-19 fatality and just four days later, the first infection outside of China (in Thailand) was confirmed. Dr. Li’s city became the epicenter of the soon-to-be pandemic, prompting the Chinese government to issue lockdown orders for the city that went into effect on January 23. But the Chinese government’s actions proved too little too late for Dr. Li and the countless patients he served. On January 30, the physician was diagnosed with COVID-19 more than two weeks after publicly reporting having a cough and fever. The 33-year-old doctor died just 8 days later. Dr. Li continued warning all who would listen that a major health emergency was at the world’s doorstep until he eventually succumbed to the deadly Coronavirus.
Unfortunately, under pressure from the Chinese Communist Party, organizations such as the taxpayer funded WHO waited far too long to declare the coronavirus a “Public Health Emergency” and sat by as China delayed the arrival of a WHO advance team by two weeks. In fact, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has actively praised Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “political commitment” and “political leadership.”
What Dr. Li did was a Profile in Courage for the entire world. We can’t think of a better person to honor.
Another Massive Relief Bill…Pelosi’s Fiscal Folly
The ink is barely dry on the $2.2 trillion CARES Act and no checks have gone out to help people cope with the economic fallout of the Coronavirus. Now, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) wants another fiscal stimulus bill. Pelosi, along with President Trump, are eyeing significant short-term spending increases on legislative “priorities” that have little to do with containing the Coronavirus pandemic. Politico reports that Speaker Pelosi, “signaled to her caucus that infrastructure would likely be part of the ‘phase 4’ package, specifically ticking off priorities like water systems, broadband and the energy grid.” President Trump tweeted similar sentiments on March 31, arguing, “this is the time to do our decades long awaited Infrastructure Bill.”
The Coronavirus continues to take countless lives as households and businesses continue to grapple with the worst public health emergency seen in a century. Sadly, members of Congress and the Trump administration want to use this crisis to advance their personal agendas and pet projects that have absolutely nothing to do with the crisis at hand. Private companies have proven capable of building and maintaining broadband and energy grid systems and by all indications are continuing to do so amid the Coronavirus pandemic. This work should be left to companies that are more than up to the task of keeping households connected. If another bill is passed, Congress should focus on providing relief to individuals, families, and businesses that are struggling to stay above water. Now is the time to help people and businesses in need instead of fulfilling ideological wish lists or scoring political points. Lawmakers rejected Speaker Pelosi’s first attempt when she offered a wasteful $2.5 trillion proposed grab bag of pork projects. But just a week after Congress and the Trump administration rejected Speaker Pelosi’s outrageous bill, elected representatives are already considering a similar package of pork-barrel spending. Spending trillions of dollars on infrastructure projects would take vital resources away from struggling Americans while sidelining the private companies who are putting their investments on the line every day to provide broadband and energy services to beleaguered businesses and households. And, once Congress starts to put together the legislation you know it is going to be filled with non-related items.
If Congress truly wants to expand relief at such a difficult time, they should move to cut workers’ payroll taxes and remove the taxes and regulations keeping internet providers and electricity companies from doing their jobs. These measures, not wasteful “infrastructure” spending, will help get America back on track.
Blogs:
Monday: This National Doctors’ Day, Let’s Show our Appreciation
Wednesday: Watchdog Urges Congress to Keep Pet Projects Out of Fourth Relief Package
Thursday: Watchdog Praises FCC for Opening 6 GHz Band for Unlicensed Use
Friday: Profiles in Courage: Dr. Li Wenliang
Media:
March 28, 2020: American Expat Financial News Journal ran TPA’s op-ed, “Give trapped Americans abroad a break this tax season.”
March 29, 2020: The New York Post (New York, NY) mentioned TPA in their story, “Libertarian: Digital to the Rescue.”
March 30, 2020: Catalyst ran TPA’s op-ed, “This National Doctors’ Day, Let’s Show Our Appreciation.”
March 30, 2020: WBFF (Fox, Baltimore) interviewed me about how the FDA can help contain the Coronavirus.
March 30, 2020: The Center Square ran TPA’s op-ed, “During COVID-19 pandemic, FCC holds firm on C-Band auction deadline.”
March 31, 2020: The Foundation for Economic Education ran TPA’s op-ed, “Harvard Study Finds Consumers Don’t Care if Businesses Are Licensed but Do Consider Customer Reviews and Pricing.”
March 31, 2020: WBFF-TV quoted TPA in their story, “City Contractors donate to comptroller Pratt's campaign.”
March 31, 2020: Catalyst ran TPA’s op-ed, “Time to Reopen the Campgrounds.”
March 31, 2020: TPA Policy Director Ross Marchand appeared on “The Final 5” (Fox, Washington, D.C.) to talk about the federal response to the Coronavirus.
April 1, 2020: Townhall ran TPA’s op-ed, “Loosening Automotive Standards Will Drive Post-Pandemic Prosperity.”
April 1, 2020: RealClearPublicAffairs ran TPA’s op-ed, “FDA Should Fight Coronavirus, Not Harm Reduction Products.”
April 1, 2020: The American Conservative ran TPA’s op-ed, “The World Health Organization Is Out Of Control.”
April 2, 2020: WBFF (Fox, Baltimore) interviewed me about oversight of the $2.2 trillion financial aid package.
April 3, 2020: I appeared on WRVA (1140 AM; Richmond, Va.) to talk about Speaker Pelosi’s potential fourth relief package.
April 3, 2020: Catalyst ran TPA’s op-ed, “Postal Service Could Learn a Thing or Two from Private Shippers’ Pandemic Response.”
April 3, 2020: Townhall ran TPA’s op-ed, “Airline Aid Shouldn’t Become Back-Door Nationalization.”
April 4, 2020: Issues & Insights ran TPA’s op-ed, “Regulators Must Keep Deliveries Chugging Along During Pandemic.”
Have a great weekend, stay safe, and as always, thanks for your continued support.
Best,
David Williams
President
Taxpayers Protection Alliance
1401 K Street, NW
Suite 502
Washington, D.C. xxxxxx
www.protectingtaxpayers.org
