By Ray Lenzi, Democratic candidate for Illinois’ 12 Congressional District
Tell me if you’ve heard this one before: Congressman Mike Bost is dancing to the tune of his super rich donors instead of representing the needs of the people. Well, of course you have!
Hospitals, small businesses, unemployed workers and state and local governments are struggling; drowning in debt. Bost of course, stands with his party’s caucus in insisting that the next stimulus bill only follows the directives of Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell. “We the People” say, “Hey Mike, how about some independent thinking! Let’s take care of the people you’re supposed to represent instead of those high rollers.”
Yes, small businesses need more help. So do the unemployed, our postal workers, Illinois’ state government, and local governments from Alton and Belleville to Carbondale and Marion. Lost revenue during this crisis is threatening further layoffs that will only make things worse. Why not support a bipartisan bill that will provide the dollars that will allow the states and our local health departments the ability to provide the kind of universal testing that is needed to know when we can safely start to re-open the economy?
The only answer is that Mike Bost has no independent mind or original ideas for the good of the people. He was silent when Trump said only a month ago the virus would be down to “zero” and “go away.” Having isolated himself from the people he now hides behind his wealthy donors and simply parrots what he is told.
Hey Mike, come out of your hiding place. How about virtual debates on line right now? What are you afraid of? You won’t even call out Trump for insisting his name be on the stimulus checks! The first and only president to ever make such a nakedly selfish demand! How shameful. Is there no limit to the corruption you will support?
The Coronavirus crisis has exposed the deeply immoral alliance of Bost with the super-rich and their backward political agenda. The times they are a’ changing.’ It’s time to retire Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell and Mike Bost.