Editorial: Tillis and Burr need NOW to back coronavirus relief for families

Tuesday, March 17, 2020 -- Who does or doesn't get credit isn't as important as leaders coming together to make sure citizens health and welfare is secure as well as assuring those who can protect us - public health officials, medical professionals and law enforcement - have the resources necessary to direct citizens toward the safest behavior. Sens. Thom Tillis and Richard Burr should back the bill and press for action on it as soon as possible.

Posted 12:53 p.m. Mar 17, 2020 — Updated 1:35 p.m. Mar 17, 2020

CBC Editorial: Tuesday, March 17, 2020; Editorial #8521

The following is the opinion of Capitol Broadcasting Company.

It has been remarkable, in North Carolina at least, that some Republicans and Democrats are doing more than talking about bipartisan cooperation. They are actually doing it.

It was no mere symbolic gesture to have Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson join together last week to both display and affirm a united front in dealing with the coronavirus outbreak – particularly as public schools are affected. Prior to this meeting the two had been combative over education issues and policies.

In Washington last week nearly all the Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. House came together to approve on a 363-40 vote, the “Families First Coronavirus Relief Act.” Greg Murphy, who is a physician from Greenville voted for it along with fellow Republicans Virginia Foxx, George Holding, Richard Hudson, Patrick McHenry, David Rouzer and Mark Walker. The state’s Democrats in the House Alma Adams, G.K. Butterfield and David Price, all backed the bill which awaits Senate action this week.

“As a physician, I understand the ramifications coronavirus could have on our country,” Murphy said of his vote for the bill. “It is Congress’s responsibility to ensure we take this situation seriously. … Free testing for all Americans is paramount to fighting against this pandemic. In addition, by providing the benefits outlined in this legislation, families won’t need to worry about their economic security while practicing social distancing, thereby helping us ‘flatten the curve.’”

Mark Meadows, who had put himself on personal quarantine for possible exposure to the virus, didn’t vote. Only Dan Bishop of Mecklenburg County and Ted Budd of Davie County voted against it.

"This bill, unveiled in the dark of night, loads an unfathomable new regulatory, financial and tax accounting burden on the smallest businesses in the country at their most vulnerable moment," Bishop said in a statement to WFAE-FM.

Budd, via Facebook, issued a similar statement: “It was written in secret and sprung on House members at midnight with minutes to digest billions of dollars in new spending and regulatory impact,” he said. “I hope that any future aid packages will be openly debated and proactive, rather than partisan and reactionary.”

While the two did vote for an earlier, quickly presented $8.3 billion virus action package, the notion that this one is somehow partisan is more representative of their distinct perspective than the overwhelming bipartisanship on display.

Who does or doesn’t get credit isn’t as important as leaders coming together to make sure citizens' health and welfare is secure along with assuring those who can protect us – public health officials, medical professionals and law enforcement – have the resources and can direct people toward the safest behavior.

NOW, North Carolina Republican Sens. Thom Tillis and Richard Burr should follow suit, back the bill and press for action on it as soon as possible.

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