Letters to the Editor by BILL CLARK

      Trump and his fellow Republicans have asked the Supreme Court to completely invalidate the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare). Response from McSally: crickets! The GOP has no plan or intention to replace the ACA. If they succeed, some 23 million Americans would lose their health insurance in the middle of the worst worldwide pandemic in over 100 years. The most drastically impacted would be the most vulnerable Americans. The ACA is the only law that began and continues to protect Americans with pre-existing medical conditions. It is also the only law that allows families to keep their college student children covered. Once ACA is gone, so are those protections! Both Trump and McSally have been lying to us about their commitment on this issue. In my opinion, this makes both Trump and McSally traitors to American families.      

     I’m shocked at the GOP approach to the newly exploding COVID crisis, as they rush reopening rather than lifesaving priorities. Trump has pretty much washed his hands on the matter. Politically motivated GOP governors continue to put thousands of American lives at risk. Our Gov. Ducey has turned himself into a political pretzel. The net result is new infection rates setting daily records across Arizona and America.

The GOP proposal on police reform is nothing more than a few suggestions that could be easily ignored. They offer talking points rather than substantive solutions to a problem ripping America apart at the seams.

     My point is that on so many fronts, the GOP has failed to govern. The once proud party has devolved into a cult of power grabbing and consolidation. The Party of Trump cannot be given another destructive term in office at any level! Our suffering America deserves better!

     Since I’m pretty old now, I have a long-ago childhood memory of hearing my parents tell me, “The Republicans are for the rich people and the Democrats are for everyone else." I’ve never forgotten those words, I’ve always believed them and nowadays, I am seeing absolute proof of their truth.

     The COVID-19 crisis has impacted low-income, elderly and minority folks much harder than the wealthy. Employees who have to show up to a job are at much more risk than those who have the luxury of working from home. The nursing home populations are mostly made up of people on basic and fixed incomes and now account for 40% of all American deaths. Native American homelands are being devastated, African American and Hispanic communities are ravaged — frequently, these are among our least affluent. I know, you’re asking — what does this have to do with party politics? The answer lies in the lack of action at the federal and state level.    Low-income employees are being forced to return to work or lose benefits. Arizona's GOP is all about protecting businesses but doing nothing to protect the safety and health of employees. LD11’s GOP reps are all saying that it’s too damn bad for workers — they’re on their own.

     Even basic sanitation and safety precautions for customers and employees are merely “suggested” in Arizona. They should be mandatory! Every public building should have a sign: No Shirt No Shoes No Mask — No Service. The GOP at the federal and state level is failing to take action that would minimize COVID spread and protect as many citizens as possible.

     Did you know that universal mail delivery in the United States predates our Constitution? Did you know that prior to 1980, the postmaster general was a cabinet level position? Did you know that the USPS receives no operational funding from tax dollars? Did you know the USPS is the only business required to fund employee retirement payments 75 years in advance? Did you know the USPS is not allowed to compete with other businesses on many of its services? Did you know that unless the USPS receives additional emergency funding it will cease to exist by this summer’s end.

     The women and men of the USPS go to work 24/7 making sure that legal documents, lifesaving medical supplies and words of love and encourage-ment get delivered to every single household in every corner of America. For 55 cents you can send a letter from the tip of Maine to the far side of Hawaii.

   The Trump administration is using postal employees as a weapon to beat up one of his political enemies. USPS will receive no funding unless it tears up its contract with Amazon — owned by Trump foe Jeff Bezos. The USPS must also renegotiate all employee contracts, change postage rates (in violation of require-ments of the Postal Regulatory Commission) and allow the administration to choose subsequent postmasters general.

   I urge you to protect postal employees and the independence of the USPS itself. I urge you to demand that Congress authorize the necessary additional funding needed to keep the USPS in business. I urge you to contact your U.S. senators, Sinema and McSally, as well as CD1 Congressman O’Halleran and tell them to support USPS funding with no strings attached. We Americans must do what’s right!