Tarren
Bragdon Posted: Jul 14, 2020 12:01 AM
The opinions expressed
by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of
Townhall.com.
For most Americans, COVID-19 and the economic aftermath was
a huge shock. Our economy was booming, unemployment was at historic lows—and
then suddenly everything was closed. The shock of the suddenness of this change
is only exacerbated by the economic realities facing families across the
country. As of 2019, roughly half of the country didn’t have $400 in emergency
savings, even during times of prosperity. It’s a startling reminder to plan
today for tomorrow’s troubles.
For most of us, this lesson is applied to our lives by
putting money into a savings account and preparing for a rainy day. The
implications fall on us and our families, alone. But for Governor Pete Ricketts
of Nebraska, his efforts to store up strong work policies during good economic
times are paying dividends for the whole state. When more Americans are out of
work and collecting unemployment benefits than ever before, Nebraska boasts
the third-lowest unemployment rate in the
nation and the sixth-best unemployment trust fund.
So how was Nebraska so prepared?
Over the course of his administration, Gov. Ricketts has been reshaping Nebraskan public policy to
focus on reemployment instead of unemployment. Welfare programs have been
reformed to promote work and training for food stamp recipients, and those
receiving unemployment benefits have been encouraged to continue searching for
a job. On the business front, Gov. Ricketts has sought to eliminate barriers to
work through occupational licensing reform and other regulatory relief measures
that promote work and business opportunities.
Combined, these efforts have put more Nebraskans on a
pathway to independence and fortified the state’s economy long before the
COVID-19 pandemic began.
Unlike the ants in Aesop’s Fables who anticipated winter
every year, Gov. Ricketts could not have foreseen a global pandemic and
economic slowdown the likes of which we’ve experienced this year. Instead, his
efforts to lay a foundation of pro-work policies in Nebraska come from a strong
belief in the power of work to lift individuals out of poverty and advance
families to reach their own American dream. And the truth is, all Americans
deserve the kind of solutions that Gov. Ricketts is promoting—more jobs, better
jobs, and less government dependency.
While not every state was as prepared for trouble as Nebraska
has been, we know that it’s never too late to put public policy on the right
path by promoting work and opposing measures that will keep us from returning
to a roaring economy.
Now is not the time for government bailouts, higher taxes, or a
government system that makes welfare more attractive than work, yet these are
the so-called solutions many policymakers are advancing in the wake of
COVID-19. Already, Congress has paid out billions and instituted a $600 a month
bonus for unemployment insurance—making it more profitable for many Americans
to stay at home rather than return to work. This measure alone will keep the
economy from regaining strength as businesses cannot rehire workers and states’
budgets continue to bleed without revenues.
Instead, now is the time to stand strong for work. Congress
should act quickly to repeal the unnecessary bonus to unemployment insurance
and keep clear of irresponsible requests for further bailouts.
Additionally, many states—including Nebraska—have taken
positive steps to increase flexibility and promote more consumer choice during
this public health crisis. Gov. Ricketts acted swiftly to temporarily remove
certain scope of practice restrictions, waive state licensing requirements for
medical personnel licensed in another state, and grant retired medical
professionals the ability to reactive their license. These reforms have
connected more individuals with needed medical care—including care unrelated to
COVID-19—and should be made permanent across the board to further promote
access to health care.
If the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic lockdown
have taught us anything, it’s that policy choice, including those before
disaster strikes, matter. I applaud Gov. Ricketts for his responsible
leadership and urge more lawmakers to follow his example by promoting work and
independence as both a preventative measure and a cure for economic hardship.
Tarren Bragdon is the chief executive officer at the
Foundation for Government Accountability
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