Heidi Alexander: “as the majority leader said, all this vote is about is, Shall we get on the bill? Can we debate the issue? Can we get…”

“as the majority leader said, all this vote is about is, Shall we get on the bill? Can we debate the issue? Can we get together to decide what to do about what is the most significant healthcare crisis in a century in this State? Can we get on the bill? We are saying yes; they are saying no. The distinguished Senator from West Virginia says: What about the people who need help? I have a friend who emailed me last night and said: It is too late; I am closing five small businesses. These are little businesses. Well, why did we not vote last night on this, because in this bill is the proposal by Senator Collins--Senator Collins, Republican; Senator Cardin, Democrat; Senator Rubio, Republican; Senator Shaheen, Democrat--that would loan money to small businesses of less than 500 people so they can pay their employees in West Virginia and Tennessee. And then, if they did that, it would be forgiven. In other words, it is a grant. They could keep working. That is for the employees. Every day we wait, they don't get paid. Pass this bill and the laid-off employees would be available for sick leave, which they weren't when the bill came over from the House. Pass this bill today and the employee who was laid off last week could be available for 2 weeks of sick leave at today's salary. Pass this bill and most Americans would get $1,200 per person, $2,400 a couple, $500 more for a child. They would get it one day sooner if you passed this bill last night.…”