Rand Paul Goes Viral Open the Economy
Editorial of The New York Sun |
December 22, 2020
https://www.nysun.com/editorials/rand-pauls-warning-open-the-economy/91375/
Senator Rand Pauls speech opposing the latest emergency spending bill started going viral, we gather, even before it was over. It echoed the warnings of his famous father and will go down as a Paulian classic. Its a challenge to Modern Monetary Theory, which reckons the government can keep creating fiat dollars out of thin air. Wed like to think it will mark one of the debates as Americans work their way to 2024.
The measure Dr. Paul was opposing is a vast, $2.3 trillion spending measure. It includes a not only $900 billion Covid relief bill but a $1.4 trillion spending bill that was unveiled at the 11th hour to tide the government over for a bit. It reminds us of Senator Everett Dirksens line about how a billion here and a billion there starts to add up to real money. Except now its trillions.
Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer this week helped introduce a resolution with Senator Rick Scott to support Americans’ free exercise of religion. The resolution recognizes the inconsistent manner in which some state and local governments have enforced COVID-19 restrictions against places of worship, in comparison to other gatherings, and stresses the Senate’s commitment to the rights, liberties and protections outlined in the Constitution.
“The free exercise of religion is central to our nation and our Constitution,” said Hoeven. “Preventing the spread of COVID-19 is an important priority. However, the policies put in place have not been enforced consistently by certain states and localities with religious gatherings receiving the most stringent of responses while other gatherings have been permitted or faced fewer restrictions. Our resolution makes clear that this does not align with our founding principles and seeks to recommit the Senate to protecting this e