Senate Republicans dawdled. Now unemployment and rent protection benefits will expire.

Stimulus bill

It’s outrageous that Republican leaders in the U.S. Senate will not act to protect the public from the economic hardships of COVID-19.

While Americans suffer and face the abyss at the end of the emergency COVID protections this week, Sens. Thom Tillis and Richard and their colleagues are so stymied by their ideologies that they can’t pass a bill like the one House Democrats passed two months ago. Instead, they dawdle and let the unemployment and rent protection benefits expire.

They want to continue to support big business with billions more and little government oversight. Yet, they won’t extend the current unemployment benefits to the millions who’ve lost jobs due to the continued missteps of this administration throughout the pandemic.

Mary-Jo Keenan, Durham

Jobless benefits

Regarding “GOP targets 70% wage replacement in stimulus bill, aides say,” (July 26) and related articles:

Here is a novel idea: How about the Republican leaders in Congress who want to cut unemployment benefits to 70% of an individual’s salary agree to take 70% of their own salaries for the remainder of this pandemic?

Will they do it ? Of course not. So why is it OK for unemployed citizens to receive 70% of their pay? Or, at the very minimum Congress should continue the $600 unemployment benefit provided under the first stimulus package.

This is the time for the government of the people to step up and do the right thing — provide assistance to those who are in need.

Jerome Brown, Raleigh

Chairman, Wake County Voter Education

Sen. Phil Berger

Regarding Sen. Phil Berger “In-person instruction is critical for the success of NC students,” (July 26 Opinion)

Sen. Phil Berger insists full, in-person instruction is critical for student success. So are health care, housing and social services.

School or no school, we have children who are homeless. This problem is about to get worse. I don’t see him calling for a special session to address it.

If Berger is so worried about children, why don’t we see an increase in social services and social workers in our community? Why hasn’t he expanded Medicaid to families at a time when they need it most?

Berger is a powerful man. He has the ability to call a special session that could provide aid to working and poor families. Blaming a school system he under-funds year after year is just another example of his terrible leadership.

Susan Book, Cary

Violent protests

There have been several recent letters to the editor complaining about Trump using federal officers to protect federal property and saying that protesters First Amendment rights are being abused.

Many of the writers leave out one key word: “peaceably.” You have the right to peaceably assemble. When protesters start burning and destroying property and injuring citizens and police they’ve nullified that right.

Mike Cobb, Wake Forest

U.S. freedoms

Let’s review the status of freedom, justice and liberty in the United States... Unidentified militia sweep demonstrators into unmarked cars and take them to undisclosed locations. Tear gas is used on peaceful protesters for to create a photo op, and a person is put in jail to prevent a book from being published.

Somewhere, dictators must be giggling.

Jeffrey Sharp, Apex

Local monuments

Regarding “Politics, power, race at play in renaming streets, places,” (July 27) and related articles:

I am pleased to note that there is already a tri-racial, tri-ethnic monument on the Raleigh capitol grounds. It depicts three 20th century American soldiers, African-American, Hispanic-American, and Caucasian-American. Perhaps it should be moved from the relatively obscure Northeast corner of the capitol grounds to a more prominent position.

Dan Figgins, Knightdale

The AIM Act

Can we squarely face the climate emergency while COVID-19 and racial injustice rightfully require our attention? We must, because climate change is a mounting, relentless threat to our children’s futures.

Interfaith Creation Care of the Triangle is supporting the phaseout of super-potent HFC greenhouse gases used in refrigeration and cooling systems. According to highly regarded Project Drawdown, a phase-out would help achieve the No. 1 most powerful solution of 80 solutions needed to reverse global warming.

The bipartisan American Innovation and Manufacturing Act has balanced co-sponsorship among Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate. Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, as well as U.S. Representatives from North Carolina, would be wise to support it, as would any candidate seeking their seats this year.

Lynn Lyle

President, Interfaith Creation Care of the Triangle

This story was originally published July 27, 2020 at 12:46 PM with the headline "Senate Republicans dawdled. Now unemployment and rent protection benefits will expire.."