June 20, 2020 Issue, Page 4 of 10

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Page 4 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Saturday, June 20, 2020 America needs non-profits Opinion Page “ElkCituNews Serving Western Oklahoma since 1901 now more than ever Senators should By Michael Werner blood supply -- has had to By providing emergency able to COVID-19, they'll not stand in way and since March Ist, resulting Christina Kazhe The COVID-19 pandemic cancel 7,000 blood drives look to non-profit organiza- tions like LRF for support funds to non-profit organiza- tions, both large and small, has brought the country to in 200,000 lost donations. and ways to stay healthy of bill that works to Congress could help the Many of the more than 20 throughout the pandemic. economy as well as vulner- a crawl. Lawmakers and Finally, Partnership With consumers alike are rightly million Americans who re- able Americans. Over 1 mil- help businesses worried about the economic cently filed for unemploy- Native Americans (PWNA) lion charitable non-profits security of shuttered bars, provides essential servic- ment will soon turn to The employ more than 12 million es for those living on re- restaurants, and retail loca- Salvation Army for food, people in the United States By Matthew Adelman, Publisher, Douglas (Wyoming) tions. But many have largely shelter, and financial assis- mote reservations. Native and contribute $1 trillion to Budget and President, National Newspaper Association ignored the nation’s charities. tance. But COVID-19 has Americans are extremely the economy each year. Sus- COVID-19 has the potential forced The Salvation Army susceptible to COVID-19 The coronavirus pandemic has laid much of the Ameri- taining these groups through to devastate non-profit or- to close many of its dona- due to overcrowded hous- can economy on its back - but a bright spot has made the ganizations, which provide tion centers and retail stores. ing, higher rates of diabetes our present crisis will help disaster less crippling than it might have been. That is the essential services to vulner- COVID-19 has also dealt and respiratory illness, and lessen the economic turmoil Paycheck Protection Program, which funneled money back able populations, fund bio- a severe blow to America’s limited healthcare options. wrought by COVID-19. to workers through small businesses. medical research, support cancer research non-profits. Nearly 50 percent of grand- Lawmakers are right to Four and a half million small businesses took the PPP education, and employ mil- The Lymphoma Research parents raise their grandchil- provide economic relief to loans, representing 50 million jobs, Treasury Secretary Ste- lions of Americans. Social Foundation has postponed dren, putting themselves at shuttered shops and restau- ven Mnuchin told Congress in June. distancing and donor uncer- all in-person programs and tisk of contracting the virus. rants. But they also need The program was about to run out at the end of June. tainty prevent these organi- events, including free pa- And tribal communities of- to assist the soup kitchens, zations from hosting crucial tient and professional edu- ten live in food deserts. The social service organiza- Congress moved, if somewhat slowly, to extend the dead- fundraisers and food drives, cation programs and fund- Navajo Nation, for instance, tions, cancer research foun- line for spending PPP funds to the end of the year. There recruiting volunteers, and in raising events, at least until spans three states and has dations, and other groups are still loans available. But the program has many flaws. some cases delivering their this summer, to protect the only 13 grocery stores. that will support vulnerable One is that businesses are allowed only one loan, even if. services to those in need. patients who attend these PWNA, one of the larg- Americans throughout the their money runs out before their customers return. It’s time for Congress to events and who are at higher est non-profits serving In- COVID-19 outbreak and be- One serious issue is that Congress is about to take away prioritize emergency fund- risk for severe complications dian Country, is still mak- yond. Now more than ever, ing for non-profits. These from the novel coronavirus. ing critical deliveries of much of the money that it gave businesses to hang onto funds will help maintain With hospitals canceling food, water, sanitizer, toilet we need our non-profits. those 50 million jobs. It plans to tax the businesses on the vital services and protect a non-essential visits, cancer paper and other essentials Michael Werner is a lym- payroll, rent and other expenses that they paid out with vital pillar of our economy. patients will rely on organi- to hundreds of tribal com- phoma survivor and the the PPP money during the April to December period. The COVID-19 has disrupted zations like the Lymphoma munities, even those with Lymphoma Research Foun- Treasury Department so far has said it will not allow busi- the nation’s non-profits just Research Foundation to travel restrictions and shel- dation's chairman of the nesses to deduct payroll and other costs as they normally when many citizens need provide information about ter in place orders. But as board. Christina Kazhe is them most. The American how to manage their disease. COVID-19 increases de- Partnership with Native would if PPP money was used. To tax traditionalists, that is Red Cross -- which provides And since cancer patients mand, PWNA’s warehouse Americans’ chairman of the considered “double dipping” but to others it is the left hand trying to undo the good work of the right hand. 40 percent of the nation’s are particularly vulner- supplies are running low. board. A powerful group of senators takes issue with Mnuchin. telling the Treasury Department that taxing the expenses is Coronavirus liability waivers are coming going to undermine those 50 million workers and 4.5 mil- lion businesses. But Treasury has declined to change the By Jon Healey, Los An- soon but demanding new ligence - that is, failing to of negligence are the most tax rule without Congressional action. geles Times liability waivers from its take reasonable care to pro- likely risks,” he said. For ex- “When we developed and passed the Paycheck Protec- The Trump campaign has members that specifically tect customers against harm, ample, the operator ofa pub- taken some well-deserved acknowledge the risks posed as opposed to deliberately or lic pool may put in place a tion Program, our intent was clearly to make sure small flak for scheduling a mas- by COVID-19. recklessly exposing them to number of sensible policies businesses had the liquidity and the help they needed to get sive COVID-19 transmis- Which made me wonder illness and injury. Should we to guard against COVID-19 through these difficult times. Unfortunately, Treasury and sion party in Tulsa, set for whether we're going to be just sign them and move on, transmission, but there’s still the IRS interpreted the law in a way that’s preventing busi- today. handed these waivers ev- assuming it’s a small price Perhaps recognizing the erywhere we try to go, and to pay in order to help get the risk that the lifeguards nesses from deducting expenses associated with PPP loans. That’s just the opposite of what we intended and should be risk of bringing more than whether we have any choice the economy going again? won’t diligently carry them fixed. This bill will do just that,” Sen. Charles Grassley, R- 19,000 people to scream and in the matter. The answer is, As the saying goes, where out. Their negligence is shout together in an enclosed not every business can de- you stand on this issue de- what ultimately would lead Towa, said when he introduced the Small Business Expense space for more than an hour, mand them, and how much pends on where you sit. The to your hospitalization. Protection Act, S 3612, with a bipartisan group of senators. the campaign demands that choice you have depends on way that the U.S. Chamber At the same time, Lytton The original co-sponsors were Sens. John Cornyn (R- attendees waive their right how essential the product or of Commerce and its allies said, businesses that know Texas), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and to sue the campaign, the ral- service being offered is. in Congress see it, business- their customers are all sign- Tom Carper (D-Del.). The bill has picked up 23 sponsors ly site and any employees or According to Timothy D. es are deterred from reopen- ing waivers have less incen- in all. Unfortunately, neither Sen. Ron Johnson nor Sen. volunteers for the harm that Lytton, a law professor at ing because they fear tort tive to be careful. The threat may ensue. Georgia State University lawyers will file frivolous Tammy Baldwin have yet expressed support. of a lawsuit is what protects “By clicking register be- College of Law, the courts lawsuits on behalf of the cus- But a small group of senators is exercising power to low, you are acknowledg- have imposed three basic tomers who will invariably consumers. bottle up the bill, just at a time when employers and their ing that an inherent risk limits on liability waivers. contract COVID-19, and not The debate is playing out workforces need maximum assurance that they may safely of exposure to COVID-19 First, you can’t assume risks necessarily from their busi- now in Congress, where begin to reopen. The additional tax is a new liability that exists in any public place you don’t know about; sec- ness. Consumer advocates the Chamber is pushing for PPP borrowers had not expected to pay. where people are present,” ‘ond, you have to assume the counter that responsible a broad, multiyear liability Unemployment is currently running over 13 percent, the the campaign tells people at- risk voluntarily; and third, businesses are well protect- shield against COVID-19 tempting to obtain tickets to the waiver has to be con- ed from bogus claims under highest the nation has seen since the Great Depression. The lawsuits. Senate Majority the event. “By attending the sistent with public policy. current law, noting how hard Leader Mitch McConnell economy is poised on a knife’s edge as the nation strug- Rally, you and any guests That’s why, for example, it will be for customers to gles to get back to its feet. Senators who do not yet see voluntarily assume all risks local supermarkets couldn’t prove where, exactly, they (R-Ky.) has said that liabil- the wisdom of S 3612 may turn out to be responsible for related to exposure to COV- insist that all shoppers sign were infected. ity protections must be part businesses once again having to back off on rehiring and ID-19 and agree not to hold waivers before buying food, So far, the supposed wave of any new relief bill, and developing their new post-pandemic business plans. If so, Donald J. Trump for Presi- and businesses couldn’t en- of COVID-19 lawsuits looks while some Democrats sup- it would be a shame. dent, Inc.; BOK Center; force waivers that shield- more like a gentle ripple. port targeted liability limits, ASM Global; or any of their ed their gross negligence, An online tally kept by the they generally oppose what Lytton said. rElkCituNews affiliates, directors, officers, Hunton Andrews Kurth law McConnell has advocated. employees, agents, contrac- (Employees and work- firm shows 186 complaints In the meantime, expect tors, or volunteers liable for place-based waivers are a filed on behalf of consumers more waivers to pop up as any illness or injury.” special category, given that since the pandemic took off you start to resume the ac- USPS # 173-020 Naturally, we in the Fake on-the-job injuries and ill- in February, but only nine 580-225-3000 News Industry pounced on nesses are covered by work- at most were from people tivities you stopped after the Trump for putting MAGA- ers compensation insurance claiming they were harmed shutdown orders took effect. Is published twice weekly by Beckham County Media, LLC ites in harm’s way and then instead of the tort system. by exposure to COVID-19 Here’s Lytton’s rule of 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644-4736 ducking responsibility for Here’s a good explanation in a public place. The vast thumb: “If you don’t have to Periodicals Postage Paid at Elk City, OK 73644 it. But some reporters also for why employers would majority were for losses do it, then it’s a bad idea to POSTMASTER: Send adress changes to 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644 observed that the steps the have a hard time forcing caused by cancellations and sign it.” president’s campaign is tak- workers to sign COVID-19 postponements or by false SUBSCRIPTIONS ee ing reflect the lawsuit anxi- liability waivers in order to advertising. Close to 200 And if you have little Deliverd by mail: choice but to sign - because $75/yearly Don Munsch ety felt by many businesses go back to work.) lawsuits, meanwhile, have the product or service is es- $50/six months Editor as governments lift their Those limits still leave been filed by businesses and sential, or you’re compelled No refunds on subscriptions. Brittany Howell stay-at-home orders. plenty of room for opera- groups challenging stay-at- Classifieds Sure enough, in my email tions like the Y that offer home orders. to sign - “it’s pretty much Friday morning was a note nonessential goods and ser- In Lytton’s view, you're unenforceable.” editor @ ecdailynews.com D’Ann Brasuell sports @ ecdailynews.com Graphics Supervisor from the YMCA of Metro- vices to insist on liability giving up a lot if you waive Jon Healey is the Los An- ads @ ecdailynews.com Neva Pyatt politan Los Angeles, telling waivers that protect them your right to sue for neg- geles Times’ deputy edito- classifieds @ ecdailynews.com ‘Advertising me that it was reopening against claims of basic neg- ligent acts, “Simple forms rial page editor