Even as hospitals and healthcare workers do their best to help patients during the Coronavirus crisis, regulatory barriers continue to compromise care. For example, certificate-of-need (CON) laws prevent hospitals from ramping up their COVID-19 capacity by forcing them to obtain permission from bureaucrats in a lengthy and costly process before expanding their services. These laws were nonsensical before COVID-19. Now, they are just plain insane as hospitals try and treat an influx of pandemic patients. Fortunately, Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) introduced the “Increasing Hospital Capacity to Fight the Coronavirus Act of 2020” (H.R. 6336) which would allow states to repeal onerous CON laws. Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) Executive Director Tim Andrews interviewed Rep. Bishop about his legislation. It’s a really good interview. I’m convinced that, once you watch the interview, you’ll agree that Congress must act quickly to allow states to repeal these needless rules without incurring the wrath of the federal government.
Profiles in Courage…Gov. Jared Polis
People are getting anxious to get back to work. Those with jobs who are teleworking are anxious to leave the confines of their houses/apartments and rejoin society. But, the decision to re-open rests with the individual governors. The ones who are (slowly) re-opening are under immense scrutiny by their citizens and the media. Even though it appears that re-opening seems to be a red state/blue state divide, there is one prominent Democratic official, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D), who is resisting calls within his party to keep America indefinitely shuttered. Gov. Polis has widely urged a middle-of-the-road course that will re-open Colorado while acknowledging the very real risks of the Coronavirus. For defying political expectations and working for the best interests of his state, Gov. Polis is truly a Profile in Courage.
States have been caught in a peculiar situation amid a once-in-a-lifetime public health crisis. People across the country are desperate to get out, start working again, and spend time with their loved ones. But there’s no ready-made template for coping with a pandemic aside from the Stay-at-Home orders that are unsustainable over the long-term. That’s why a slew of states including Colorado, Alaska, and Georgia are slowly reopening with stringent measures such as limiting store capacities to 25 percent. Gov. Polis stands alone as a Democratic official cautiously trying to re-open his state. On April 27, Gov. Polis brought his state out of lockdown with a “Safer-at-Home” initiative allowing Coloradans to go about their business on a limited basis. This first reopening phase included curbside retail sales, voluntary or elective medical and dental services, veterinary services, and real estate showings. On May 1, retail businesses, in addition to personal services such as salons and tattoo parlors, were allowed to open their doors with strict safety precautions. Gov. Polis isn’t going as far as some of his fellow governors, and restaurants will remain takeout only for the time being. Still, the fact that a Democratic governor is leading the charge to re-open at all right now is interesting and a bold move as national Democratic party leaders oppose any limited opening. Colorado-based Democratic strategist Ted Trimpka says that Gov. Polis’ reopening plan isn’t a mystery at all. Trimpka noted that: “Jared isn't following Republican governors — he's leading Democratic ones… Jared is a unique individual, and to say that he is a cookie-cutter, standard public official or politician just isn't the case. He's always blazed his own trail. And he's confident as to where he's going.” As the first openly gay governor and the lone Democratic member of the House Liberty Caucus while in Congress, Gov. Polis is indeed a trailblazer. He’s repeatedly shown a willingness to pursue the right policies in the face of prevailing political wisdom and pressure. And so far, his unique approach has proven popular among his constituents.
At this difficult time, Americans want leaders who are willing to go out on a limb and do what is right instead of burying their heads in polling reports. Gov. Polis’ approach may work or it may backfire, but this experimentation is critical to containing the Coronavirus. And for moving the needle forward, Gov. Polis is absolutely a Profile in Courage.
Persistent Postal Problems
There is no shortage of human and economic suffering during this pandemic. But the COVID crisis also has a way of papering over the pre-pandemic difficulties of government agencies such as the United States Postal Service (USPS). America’s mail carrier just announced a $4.5 billion loss for the second quarter of the year. What is sure to follow will be an attempt by Congress to include a bailout of the USPS in the next relief bill. Not so fast. Most of the agency’s loss this quarter was incurred before the Coronavirus reared its ugly head. And, the USPS posted an $8.8 billion loss last year. Is COVID-19 going to hurt the USPS? Absolutely. But that doesn’t mean that Congress and the Treasury (taxpayers) should give them a blank check. Nope.
According to a May 7 Government Accountability Office report, the agency’s troubles are deeply rooted in productivity issues: “USPS’s net losses totaled approximately $78 billion from fiscal years 2007 through 2019, and its productivity has declined in recent years—a trend that has contributed to its cost pressures.” The USPS has a failed business model and leadership that refuses to accept responsibility for its failures. The agency’s most recent net loss is just the latest indictment of repeated failures to keep costs under control and the failure to create prices reflective of reality. Yet, USPS leadership continues to blame statutory funding requirements for its issues, even though controllable losses continue to mount. Unless the USPS drastically changes course and updates its operating model to reflect reality, taxpayers will be on the hook for a bailout.
Agency-wide inefficiencies continue to compromise daily USPS operations, and these problems have grown costlier as the Coronavirus disrupts the normal course of business. For example, the USPS is systematically overspending taxpayer dollars on the “middle-mile,” which is essential for transporting mail across the country. Middle-mile contractors routinely overcharge the agency for unsatisfactory services, yet little is done to keep abuses and costs under control. A nearly-$90 billion bailout would do little more than provide a blank check to continue these wasteful practices. The agency must cut costs and pursue reform as a condition of any temporary financial relief. Fortunately, the USPS may soon get the leadership it needs to get back on track. Incoming Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has plenty of delivery-related experience and has what it takes to make the USPS a better functioning agency. But to be effective, new USPS leadership and Congress must pay close attention to past failures and work to root out waste and mismanagement.
BLOGS:
Monday: Nicotine Policy Should Not Be Exempt From Science
Tuesday: Compulsory Licensing Would Halt Race for Corona Cure
Thursday: TPA Delivers Postal Myths and Facts
Friday: Profile in Courage: Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D)
Media:
May 2, 2020: Townhall ran TPA’s op-ed, “Compulsory Licensing Would Halt Race for Corona Cure.”
May 3, 2020: TPA was quoted in WBFF FOX 45’s story, “Maryland Terminates $12.5 Million Contract after New Company Fails to Deliver PPE.”
May 4, 2020: I appeared on WBOB Radio (600 AM and 101 FM; Jacksonville, Fla.) to talk about the fiscal relief package.
May 4, 2020: WBFF (Fox, Baltimore) interviewed me about Dr. Deborah Birx and Navy Capt. Brett Crozier, who were TPA’s Profiles in Courage.
May 5, 2020: TPA Policy Director Ross Marchand appeared on “The David Webb Show” (nationally syndicated) to talk about the proposed bailout of the U.S. Postal Service.
May 5, 2020: The Orange County Register (Orange County, Calif.) ran TPA’s op-ed, “Delivery app price controls are a recipe for disaster.”
May 5, 2020: The San Bernardino Sun (San Bernardino, Calif.) ran TPA’s op-ed, “Delivery app price controls are a recipe for disaster.”
May 5, 2020: The Daily Bulletin (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) ran TPA’s op-ed, “Delivery app price controls are a recipe for disaster.”
May 5, 2020: The Redlands Daily Facts (Redlands, Calif.) ran TPA’s op-ed, “Delivery app price controls are a recipe for disaster.”
May 5, 2020: The Daily Breeze (Torrance, Calif.) ran TPA’s op-ed, “Delivery app price controls are a recipe for disaster.”
May 5, 2020: The Press-Telegram (Long Beach, Calif.) ran TPA’s op-ed, “Delivery app price controls are a recipe for disaster.”
May 5, 2020: The San Gabriel Valley Tribune (San Gabriel, Calif.) ran TPA’s op-ed, “Delivery app price controls are a recipe for disaster.”
May 5, 2020: The Los Angeles Daily News (Woodland Hills, Calif.) ran TPA’s op-ed, “Delivery app price controls are a recipe for disaster.”
May 5, 2020: The Whittier Daily News (Whittier, Calif.) ran TPA’s op-ed, “Delivery app price controls are a recipe for disaster.”
May 5, 2020: Inside Sources ran TPA’s op-ed, “‘L-Band’ Network Needed to Bridge Digital Divide.”
May 6, 2020: Catalyst ran TPA’s op-ed, “Localities Must Take the Lead in Reopening America.”
May 6, 2020: Townhall ran TPA’s op-ed, “Warren-Ocasio Cortez Plan Would Spell Doom for Struggling Businesses and Workers.”
May 6, 2020: TPA Senior Fellow Jeff Stier appeared on “The Steve Gruber Show” (WJIM 1240; Grand Rapids, Mich.) to talk about the World Health Organization.
May 6, 2020: The Epoch Times quoted TPA in their story, “Congress Gave $801 Million to 25 Colleges with $350 Billion in Endowments Via CARES Act.”
May 7, 2020: The Epoch Times quoted TPA in their story, “YouTube to Ban Content That Contradicts WHO on COVID-19.”
May 7, 2020: WBFF (Fox, Baltimore) interviewed me about the recent jobless claims numbers.
May 8, 2020: I appeared on 55KRC Radio (Cincinnati, Ohio) to talk about KentuckyWired, compulsory licensing, and the U.S. Postal Service.
May 8, 2020: The Detroit News (Detroit, Mich.) ran TPA’s op-ed, “Let states lead on COVID-19 liability protections.”
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
