We are very concerned that if (and when) Congress reconvenes in May they will take up another Coronavirus relief bill. The worry is that the next legislation will contain unrelated items such as infrastructure spending, a Postal Service bailout or more bureaucratic meddling in healthcare with price controls as a way to “fix” surprise medical billing. We formed the Coalition Against Rate-Setting in January to urge Congress not to institute price controls, which would significantly cut pay for doctors and nurses. That message is more important than ever as our healthcare professionals are putting their lives on the line and guiding us through the Coronavirus crisis. This week we released a letter from more than 160 economists. In part, the letter read, “No matter the policy area, government price controls often result in shortages and market distortions. These outcomes should be avoided, especially when dealing with important health care services like emergency room visits and physician care.” Thank you to our coalition members and all economists involved for spreading the word.
Profiles in Courage…Doctor Deborah Birx
Dr. Deborah Birx has inspired millions of people, and no, this isn’t (just) in reference to her trendsetting scarf choices. Dr. Birx is not only a strong and smart woman who is a role model for future female scientists. She has been a reassuring beacon of light at an exceptionally dark time, working extraordinarily long hours under media scrutiny while providing indispensable medical advice and keeping Americans updated about the Coronavirus pandemic. Dr. Birx has devoted her life to real, not political, science, so given her lack of experience serving in such a public role, stepping into the spotlight must not have been easy. For soldiering on and being an invaluable source of information and reassurance, Dr. Deborah Birx is truly a Profile in Courage.
It’s hard to sum up Dr. Birx’s life of service in the span of just a few paragraphs. In a wide-ranging piece, MarketWatch contributor Nicole Lyn Pesce notes that Dr. Birx, “is a world-renowned global health official and a retired U.S. Army physician who was instrumental in HIV/AIDS vaccine research, and whose career has spanned three decades.” Pesce reports that, even at a young age, the public health expert was firmly committed to advancing science and innovation. With the help of her two brothers, a young Dr. Birx converted her family’s Lancaster County (PA) backyard shed into a lab.
Dr. Birx took her talents to the Department of Defense where she worked as a military-trained clinician in immunology amid the outbreak of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in 1985. Just 11 years later, then-Colonel Birx rose in rank to become the Director of the U.S. Military HIV Research Program. She made the most of her new role, devoting her research acumen to combatting AIDS (a little-understood disease at the time) that has no cure. Dr. Birx helped lead an HIV/AIDS vaccine efficacy trial, known as RV144, that studied the impact of a vaccine combination on more than 16,000 participants in Thailand. A research summary notes, “vaccine regimen was safe and modestly effective in preventing HIV infection, lowering the rate of HIV infection by 31.2 percent compared to placebo…the landmark trial continues to provide scientific direction to help guide vaccine development and testing.” Without the patience and research drive of dedicated public servants like Dr. Birx, the country wouldn’t likely be on the cusp of finding a cure to HIV/AIDS today. Now, Dr. Birx is taking on a new, deadly foe: the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). In February, she was abruptly thrust into the public spotlight after being chosen as the Coronavirus Response Coordinator for the Trump administration's White House Coronavirus Task Force. Dr. Birx has taken on a key role formulating the “social distancing” guidelines that have kept down death rates in America and informing policymakers on complicated subjects like immunity and treatment options. She also plays the pivotal role of national psychologist, urging calm while being realistic about the spread of the disease.
As a fixture in the President’s regular press briefings, she’s had to endure sustained and unfair criticism from across the ideological spectrum. The hosts of The View have relentlessly mocked her, with co-host Joy Behar saying, “she’s less of a doctor and more like an elderly care nurse to this guy.” They seem to think that Dr. Birx is not worthy of respect unless she loudly interrupts and scolds the President on live television. Dr. Birx has also had to do battle with conspiracy theorists alleging intentionally inflated death tolls from the pandemic. As she selflessly shepherds the country through the pandemic, she will also continue to serve as a North Star for scarf enthusiasts the world over. And for all these reasons, and many more, Dr. Deborah Birx is a Profile in Courage.
Safety AND Federalism Can Coexist
After more than a month of sheltering in place, hundreds of millions of Americans will soon emerge from the “new normal.” Georgia, Colorado, and Alaska (among other states) are giving their residents some freedom to return to their old lives, with many “non-essential” businesses resuming operations. Plenty of public health advocates are concerned and have raised legitimate questions about the timing of such policies. But, done right, a cautious re-opening of America can lay the groundwork for renewed prosperity and lead to better health outcomes than continued, blanket stay-at-home orders. And a robust system of American federalism allows states to emulate best practices and learn from failed policies. With prudent practices and state-centric experimentation, America can finally get past the Coronavirus crisis.
For the beleaguered residents of New York and Washington, D.C., it’s hard to see life-as-we-knew-it returning anytime soon. There’s a very different reality for state citizens of, say, Alaska, who are already distancing themselves from social distancing. On April 24, Anchorage restaurants resumed dine-in services albeit under a series of strict stipulations agreed to by the city and state. Colorado has opted for a more restrictive route, continuing to restrict restaurants to delivery and carry-out pending further progress against COVID-19. But under Governor Jared Polis’ (D) “Safer at Home” initiative (a phase of his larger response plan), services such as childcare, hair salons, and tattoo parlors started to re-open on April 27. Teleworking is still strongly encouraged, while many offices re-open to half capacity. While it’s tempting and politically gratifying to lump Alaskan and Coloradan state officials with the protests that have popped up across the country, there’s a wide spectrum of different approaches to re-open America. One extreme is pretending the Coronavirus doesn’t exist anymore and going about our lives as if nothing happened. This approach, demanded by some protestors, would likely result in a second wave of the deadly disease and necessitate further quarantines. Continuing a lockdown indefinitely would also spell economic disaster for millions of American households.
Ultimately, federal, state, and public health officials have little idea what’s next or the “right” way to proceed. But America will decay and suffer by embracing one extreme of indefinite, complete isolation or the other of Coronavirus denialism. The middle road is the best one, and federalism can chart the course.
Blogs:
Monday: Patent protection is needed, now more than ever
Tuesday: Economists Urge Lawmakers to Reject Healthcare Rate-Setting
Thursday: Budget pork for Kentucky Wired should be used for more deserving causes
Friday: Profile in Courage: Dr. Deborah Birx
Media:
April 24, 2020: Catalyst ran TPA’s op-ed, “U.S. Should Fund Worthy Public Health Organizations; Not The WHO.”
April 25, 2020: TPA Policy Director Ross Marchand appeared on “The Andrew Langer Show” (WBAL 1090 AM; Baltimore, Md.) to talk about Coronavirus-related social work licensing issues.
April 26, 2020: Issues & Insights ran TPA’s op-ed, “Surprise Billing ‘Fix’ Would Endanger Health Care Providers On Frontline Of COVID Crisis.”
April 27, 2020: I appeared on WBFF (Fox, Baltimore) to talk about Coronavirus-related social work licensing issues.
April 27, 2020: Ross appeared on One America News Network to talk about a potential bailout of the U.S. Postal Service.
April 27, 2020: Townhall ran TPA’s op-ed, “A Strong Dose of Federalism Needed to Get America Back on Its Feet.”
April 27, 2020: I appeared on “The Steve Gruber Show” (WJIM 1240; Grand Rapids, Mich.) to talk about fiscal relief legislation passed by Congress.
April 27, 2020: The Epoch Times quoted TPA in their story, “Liberal, Conservative, Watchdogs Jointly Recommend Nearly $800 Billion in Federal Spending Cuts.”
April 28, 2020: The Center Square ran TPA’s op-ed, “Economists warn lawmakers about the dangers of health care price controls.”
April 28, 2020: Sputnik News quoted TPA in their story, “Experiment to Follow: Why Many American States Are Ditching Lockdown Restrictions?”
April 28, 2020: The Daily Caller mentioned TPA in their story, “More Than 160 Economists Press Congress to Protect Health Care Workers In Next Stimulus Bill.”
April 29, 2020: I appeared on (55KRC Radio; Cincinnati, Ohio) to talk about Coronavirus relief bills and surprise billing.
April 29, 2020: Biodiesel Magazine mentioned TPA in their article, “Americans for Prosperity urges Trump to waive 2020 RFS RVOs.”
April 30, 2020: I appeared on KSEV (700 AM; Houston, Tex.) to talk about oversight over the federal loan program for small businesses.
April 30, 2020: WBFF (Fox, Baltimore) interviewed me about the latest jobless claims numbers.
April 30, 2020: Fox Business ran TPA’s op-ed, “Truckers are coronavirus heroes but proposed truck limits would threaten families, first responders.”
April 30, 2020: The Washington Examiner quoted TPA in their op-ed, “TV broadcasters lobby for same crony bailout carve-out that let Shake Shack grab millions.”
May 1, 2020: The American Conservative ran TPA’s op-ed, “How The Coronavirus Stimulus Left Small Businesses High And Dry.”
May 1, 2020: FEE ran TPA’s op-ed, “No, An All-Electric Fleet Won’t Save the U.S. Postal Service.”
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
