Moran speaks on Covid-19 issues
Sen. Jerry Moran attended the Beloit Rotary Club meeting on Tuesday at the Beloit Municipal Building to share his views on Covid-19 and other issues.
Jerry Moran attended Fort Hays State University and later the University of Kansas, where he completed a degree in economics. Following an early career as a small town banker, he received his Juris Doctor degree from KU in 1982. Kansans first elected Moran to the U.S. Senate in 2010. Previously, he served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Kansas’ 1st Congressional District. He is also on the executive committee of the Coronado Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and is a former trustee of the Eisenhower Foundation. In addition, he is an active Lions Club member, Rotary Club member, and Sons of The American Legion member.
Moran started his presentation with humorous comments as he stated that he remembered receiving his political instructions when at Beloit in back of the James Clothing building earlier in the days.
On a serious note, Moran spoke of the on-goings of the Covid-19 pandemic and government spending.
"My appetite for this is winning," said Moran. "We receive 13.4 billion dollars from the Federal Tax payers of the state of Kansas. All of that money is two thirds of the Kansas Annual budget that is being put back into the hospitals, school districts, tech colleges, etc."
When going into the relief programs, Moran said it was going to be a couple of months thing.
"I would like to see less spending from the governments capital but we have to help the Covid-19 situations by helping prepare our schools, and to help employees remain employed. If communities lose their local grocery stores, area hospitals, etc., it will hurt everyone in the longterm."
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP loan forgiveness programs) were put into place to help 80 percent of businesses that had less then 500 employees.
"The next phase of the CARES Act will be very targeted," said Moran. "My priorities will be for testing, vaccines, masks, etc. This is about protecting not only ourselves, but importantly protecting others as well. I want to make sure we are providing protection against the virus with vaccines and distributions of them and also providing more Personal Protective Equipment as well."
As far as Kansas and the Nations financial state, Moran's personal message was to not anticipate for more high spending as it will hurt our national debt in the long term.
"We can always justify spending money we don't have, but there has to be an end sometime," Moran said.
Moran spoke highly of the Veterans of the United States and remembers being at an age where they were returning from the war.
"I remember how they were treated when they came back and when I became a member of Congress, I vowed then to use opportunities and take responsibilities to do more for our Veterans.
Since then, a Mission Plan has been passed, allowing Veterans a choice to receive healthcare where they want. Closer to home when available and in the best interest for the Veterans.
"If a Veteran chooses to receive healthcare closer to home, they now have that option," Moran said.
Moran ended with questions from the crowd including those of Medicare and Social Security benefits and the payroll furlough that could be put into action.
"I oppose of eliminating our social security tax collected on wages," said Moran. "I feel it is not worth the cost."
Does the size of the National debt have an effect on Federal Interest rates?
"How could it not," Moran said. "When it appears we can't pay it back, rates will then rise. We are very fortunate to have interest rates as low as they are right now."
More in depth conversation was covered about the PPP loan program and it's forgiveness plan uncertainty.
"Right now the borrower signing the loan papers and keeping records of where it is going to the right places, is important for them to receive a forgiveness plan later," said Moran. "In our version of the bill, it would include that. Those borrowing are eligible to do that with the forgiveness plan. All in all, our goal with this program was to help keep people employed and I was all in for reaching those goals. The Small Business Association (SBA) provides 30 billion in loans each year. They were being asked to provide 350 billion in loans in just two weeks with the Covid-19 pandemic issues. They had to be done quickly. It was a widespread problem."
"In this next phase in providing benefits, we will work with longer periods of times and flexibility to use over time," said Moran. "Greater opportunities to use wisely instead of quickly."