This week on A Midwest Conversation
Vaccine Madness
The Biden administration has set an example for the rest of the country, mandating public workers to be vaccinated. This has prompted NYC to be the first of what I believe to be many cities and states following suit. The “The Key to NYC Pass” program will force city residents to get and prove vaccination before getting back to normal life.
In my view, this is very dangerous to force upon people both culturally and politically. The vaccine has already become a polarising issue among the American public. Now to have upper-class white liberals gripping to the power of restricting others from the private sector over a vaccine is only going to further the divide.
Additionally, the legality of this is still in a grey area. The Covid-19 mRNA vaccine is not fully approved by the FDA yet. While, at the time of writing this, the supreme court has not said anything, I feel like something or someone will challenge this in the courts.
Eviction Crisis
Over the last few days, we have seen a complete failure by the federal government. The CDC eviction ban was allowed to expire, potentially forcing 15 million Americans onto the street. Congressional leaders assumed the Biden administration and the CDC would do something to extend the ban, but the Supreme court stepped in and ruled Congress must act to extend the ban. After all, the leaders and bureaucrats in the CDC are not elected officials and do not get to decide US housing law. This fell on deaf ears in Congress as a majority of House members left town for vacation. Except for one member of the Squad, Cori Bush (D-MO). Bush has been homeless herself, and she slept on the front steps of the capitol building for days to raise awareness and give the 15 million Americans a voice.
Her actions caused other members of congress like AOC, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, members of the public, and other members of Congress to join her on the steps of the capital. The public outrage and media pressure began to grow. Joe Biden with the CDC announced that the CDC would extend the eviction ban until October 3rd and only apply it to areas with high Covid-19 Delta cases. After all, the original ban on evictions was to stop the spread of Covid-19.
There is no telling yet what the Supreme Court will do, but Congress needs to act fast in October when the ban is over. In December, Congress appropriated 25 billion dollars for aid to those facing eviction. Congress added another 21.5 billion dollars to that pool in March, totaling 46.5 billion dollars. As of writing this, only 3 billion has been distributed. So in October, when Congress is back to work fresh off their vacation and Hamptons fundraiser events, maybe they get that money out to the people who need it most.
Ohio’s 11th congressional district race
Tuesday was the vote in Ohio’s 11th congressional district between Nina Turner and Shontel Brown. Brown, who was backed by millions of dollars in dark super Pac money, the Hillary Clinton machine, and a slew of big pharma money, ultimately won. That is very disappointing if you’re a progressive in the state.
The most telling thing about the race was the amount of mainstream corporate moderate democrats who saw this victory as a legit victory. Hakeem Jeffries and other establishment democrats bosted to the media how the democratic base and the majority of the country still stand with the establishment.
This could not be further from the truth. According to the House Democratic campaign chief Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), democrats in the house are behind in the polls by at least 6 points!
Infrastructure is a mess
There have been over 281 proposed amendments to the bipartisan infrastructure plan. The Senate plans to have a vote this weekend, but I do not see that happening with the amount of work it will take to sort through the proposed changes. Senate Democrats also said they plan to move into the budget reconciliation plan as soon as the bipartisan plan passes. With the August recess begging for the Senate very soon, that plan is unlikely to pass before the fall, that is, IF all 50 democratic Senators agree. We do not yet have confirmation that all 50 are on board. Kyrsten Sinema, Senator from Azronia, has signaled she is worried about the total price tag of 3.5T, and fellow Republican in disguise Joe Manchin has also signaled worries about overspending. Kyrsten Sinema also said publically that if the reconciliation debate and vote goes into her vacation, she will not be there. Democrats need all 50 Democrats in the senate to be on board with this legislation, or it will be thrown out. If he has anything to do with it, Senator Bernie Sanders also said there would not be a bipartisan bill if he does not get a “yes” from all senate democrats. So, this entire two-bill infrastructure plan could still fall apart.
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