Letters to the Editor: ‘What a crock.’ Harsh words for McConnell and ‘Pandemic Paul’

No-class senator

Sen. Mitch McConnell is criticizing former President Barack Obama as being classless for criticizing the worst president in history. What a crock. McConnell attempted at every opportunity to prevent Obama from doing the people’s business during Obama’s administration. And McConnell had the nerve to say that that was what he intended to do. Who is the one without class? Senator McConnell needs to take a look in the mirror.

Ed and Mary Jo Votruba, Lexington

McConnell shameless

Sen. Mitch McConnell thinks President Barack Obama should keep his mouth shut, but what about criticizing those who have served before? Claiming that President Donald Trump shouldn’t be criticized is the apex of hypocrisy, though shaming McConnell’s hypocrisy is pointless; it’s his go-to move.

McConnell’s failure to unite the nation in this crisis is much more dangerous than Obama’s comments. His morally bankrupt leadership is a pandemic to our democracy. When Atticus Finch shot a rabid dog in Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill a Mockingbird”, he warned his children to stay away because the dog could still spread the disease even though dead. Trump is a danger to our country and will be even more dangerous after losing in November. If you think Gov. Matt Bevin was bad for pardoning sex predators as a lame duck, Trump’s rage at losing will be far worse.

I wonder what McConnell’s mentor, Sen. John Sherman Cooper, would have thought of his behavior. We need better role models than McConnell.

Ray Tucker, Somerset

‘Pandemic Paul’

How nice to hear from our junior senator during Dr. Anthony Fauci’s testimony to a Senate committee. I am referring of course to Dr. Rand “Pandemic Paul”. You might remember that a few weeks ago the good doctor decided not to isolate while awaiting his test results, instead deciding to spread the joy of coronavirus all over the U.S. Capitol. “Pandemic Paul” has now decreed that having had the virus he has total immunity and doesn’t need to wear a mask. Perhaps in the interest of science he would be willing to put this to the test. He could spend a few hours with some current coronavirus patients. If correct he would be advancing scientific knowledge. Or perhaps he would prefer to stick to a more tried and true specialty like piling his lawn debris onto his neighbor’s property.

Jay Hopkins, Frankfort

Paul a-wandering

Poor little Sen. Rand Paul. He wanders around wreaking havoc with whatever he says and does. And we Kentucky taxpayers pay for his salary, benefits, staff, and travel to watch his antics.

Remember the video when he was in some rural area of the country, wondering why he was running for president? So did we. Or when he frequently, single-handedly stops a Senate vote with his anti-government, Tea Party, Libertarian stances? Getting knocked on his arse over a trash dispute?

Paul must need attention to attack Gov. Andy Beshear as a “dictator” while the governor is working to save Kentuckians during the global pandemic. Paul wandered around other senators and staff while not knowing his (positive) COVID-19 test results, and refuses to wear a mask because he knows he’s not infectious.

Perhaps the junior senator should have his motivations and hearing examined, as many Americans worry that President Donald Trump, Sen. Mitch McConnell, and GOP U.S. and state legislators are the ones displaying traits of dictatorship and authoritarianism, including urging and participating in anti-government protests complete with camouflaged domestic terrorist goons flaunting military assault weapons. The pandemic be damned.

How about the millions of tests and retests Americans need to safely reopen the economy?

Ramona Rush, Lexington

Tax hike? Nope.

Raise taxes in Fayette County, Mr. Kay? Certainly, not now — the people who would pay higher taxes are business owners who already are fighting to keep afloat or their employees still waiting for unemployment assistance. Vice Mayor Steve Kay’s argument for continued Lexington-Fayette Urban County government funding of “services and supports” social programs because they were funded “in prior budgets” is not a sound or rational policy. Proposing increased taxation of “those most able to bear the burden” carries the stigma of failed liberal solutions. The federal income tax of 1913 was to be temporary, so beware of any knee-jerk tax proposal.

Roy Wilson, Lexington

Two of a kind

Lexington Vice Mayor Steve Kay and Democratic senatorial candidate Amy McGrath have a lot in common. Both offer criticism and complaints on the handling of the extreme budget deficit of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government and how Sen. Mitch McConnell “handled” passing the CARES ACT by a vote of 96-0. Kay recommends a pay increase for certain employees, but no concrete solution paying for it except to increase taxes. He states a mere $38 annual tax increase on those making $15,000 annually would not be significant. Really? $38 is very significant to this person. Then he cites that LFUCG will not fill 49 already vacant jobs. If they are vacant, shouldn’t they just be removed? Obviously, they are not too necessary. Amy is really good about leading from behind — quick to criticize long after the action is taken, but never, and I repeat never, offering a solution that has not been put forth already. The Democrats have no real challenge to Senator McConnell’s leadership with her as their candidate. She will never be able to match what he has done for Kentucky. I guess Amy has some strong need to be embarrassed yet again.

Barbara A. Ellerbrook, Lexington

Thanks, Rep. Barr

I would like to thank U.S. Rep. Andy Barr for his advocacy for telemedicine use during the COVID-19 pandemic. His national efforts translate locally into a much safer environment to provide emergent care.

But beware of the ongoing “silent” public health emergency — patients are suffering medical emergencies yet remaining home due to fear of contracting COVID-19 if they come to a hospital emergency room. We’ve seen this at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center Emergency Department. Our overall patient volumes are down more than 50 percent and the number of critical care patients is down significantly as well. There is concern patients are dying of strokes and heart attacks instead of calling 911.

It is safe to come to the UK ER. UK has split the ER into two ERs — one for potential COVID-19 cases and one for everyone else. Upon entering, patients are immediately screened for COVID-19 symptoms. Those who screen negative are brought to the main emergency department. Patients who screen positive for symptoms are brought to a unit that is completely separate from the main emergency department where staff wears full PPE.

If you or a loved one are suffering from a potential emergency, don’t hesitate to seek care.

Dr. Joel Hamm, UK emergency medicine COVID-19 medical director, Lexington

Jobless system outdated

I don’t think Linda Blackford’s recent column about Kentucky’s unemployment insurance system is fair.

My heart goes out to those who need help, and their feelings about the system are entirely justified. They need the money now.

I have worked in IT for 45 years, writing software and managing programmers.

I am not intimately familiar with the specific IT problems with the state’s system. I can tell you the system wasn’t designed to handle the volume it’s now experiencing. Making the computing changes to handle this massive increase in volume, while continuing to process claims, can be extremely complicated and probably involves significant hardware and software changes.

Adding to this, the “backend system” that processes claims and issues payments was created in the 1970s and uses the now archaic COBOL programming language. It’s difficult to find programmers who know it.

But let’s assume you could find the programmers.

What if the Herald-Leader was provided with 10 experienced writers who have never worked at the paper or used its publishing system. I wonder how long it would take them to produce an additional 50 editorials a week, instead of the usual five.

We want to identify scapegoats, but laying this on the new governor is unfair.

Nelson Barnes, Lexington

Rent forgiveness

A recent Herald-Leader article reported on protesters who want Gov. Andy Beshear to cancel rent and mortgage payments during this crisis. The same proposal was suggested by two college professors in the New York Times. As a proprietor of rental units, I have questions: How do I pay my mortgage (unless mortgage bills got canceled)? How do I pay my employees? How do I pay for my employees’ fringe benefits? How do I pay my real estate taxes? How do I pay for maintenance? How do I pay for utilities? When the closedown was being proposed, several friends, business acquaintances, and I had a discussion. This talk continues, and it pertains to what you do if a tenant doesn’t pay rent. For business properties, particularly restaurants, rent forgiveness has been given by all, as if they have no income, how can they pay rent? I know of no landlord who has evicted a residential tenant for not paying under legitimate circumstances. Everyone is trying to work together, and I’m proud to be part of the American society that is engaged in assisting those less fortunate. I would suggest that Beau Revlett work with landlords toward a compromise that would benefit all involved, as opposed to making demands.

Ben Kaufmann, Lexington

CARES gap

I have been following the Herald-Leader’s COVID-19 coverage and want to share the story of invisible but essential workers who are caring for our neighbors with intellectual and developmental disabilities during this crisis.

Direct support professionals, or DSPs, work 24/7, often in people’s homes where they cannot practice social distancing. They support people who need help with basic hygiene, health, connecting with loved ones, taking medications, and more — all despite having as hard a time as hospitals (or harder) securing PPE. Without DSPs, people with disabilities risk being institutionalized or forced into already-overwhelmed hospitals unnecessarily.

Sen. Mitch McConnell worked hard to secure important CARES Act funding for Kentuckians with disabilities. Unfortunately, Medicaid-funded disability service providers are at risk of closing permanently because the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has failed to cover Medicaid in its distribution of federal CARES Act funding.

The good news is that Senator McConnell can make a difference by holding the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services accountable in distributing federal resources to Medicaid programs. Kentuckians with disabilities and the DSPs on which they rely desperately need your support.

Amy Staed, executive director, Kentucky Association of Private Providers, Danville

Shutdown toll

The governor’s fiat shuttered schools. Likewise, countless businesses closed, many never to reopen. Lifetimes of toil and saving, swept away. Athletic events and youth sports canceled. Hundreds of thousands out of work. Billions paid in unemployment benefits. Civil liberties trampled. And on, and on.

Enough is enough, Governor.

Joe Hacker, Lexington