Cole Calls on Democratic Leaders to Act

Statement

Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) issued the following statement on the current state of negotiations between congressional and Trump Administration leaders on a fifth coronavirus relief package.

"Democratic congressional leaders have overplayed their hand in the current negotiations for a fifth coronavirus response package, and the American people are unfortunately paying the price," said Cole. "The Democratic rejection of the Republican offer to allow unemployed workers to continue drawing an extra $600 in weekly support while negotiations proceed is a transparent attempt to exploit the suffering of millions of Americans for political gain. The same is true of the Democratic refusal to immediately consider and vote on measures with clear agreement on the House floor while discussions continue on more contentious topics. It is both short sighted and cruel to deny tens of millions of Americans one-time cash assistance payments or to refuse billions of dollars in assistance to cash strapped schools when both sides agree that such payments are necessary. Congress can and should act on these areas of agreement immediately.

"There are legitimate constitutional questions about some of President Trump's recent executive orders. And personally, I have doubts about the wisdom of suspending the Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes on those Americans fortunate enough to have a job. But at least the president is using the powers of his office to lessen the suffering of the American people and sustain the current economic recovery. And to be fair, the president and his advisers have all said that a legislative solution is the preferred outcome. Unfortunately, the sad truth is that Democratic leadership is willing to risk the well-being of the American people and the health of our struggling economy to achieve their political objectives. That is unworthy of the party of Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.

"I call on Democratic congressional leaders to allow the extension of the extra unemployment payments while talks on additional coronavirus relief measures continue. And I urge Speaker Pelosi to allow a vote on the House floor on the other measures on which both sides clearly agree. The idea that everything must be agreed upon before anything can be done only compounds the suffering of the American people and puts our fragile economy at risk.

"As Congress has already demonstrated through the bipartisan passage of four coronavirus relief packages, we can do much good for the American people when we work together. That gives me hope that we can and will still come back to the table to negotiate and find a meaningful compromise on more critically needed coronavirus relief aid. Indeed, the country needs Congress to come together again and act where we can now while continuing to negotiate out our differences where we must. Surely that is not too much to ask in a time of national crisis," concluded Cole.

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