“I can’t wait to take the vaccine,” Romney said in an interview. “I’m anxious to be able to go places without a mask and to be in an airplane without worrying about getting COVID, being able to be with my grandkids again.”
“The federal government doesn’t need more money to get the vaccine to the states. But we believe the states need funding to actually have people who can give the inoculations” and to “provide super-cold storage facilities” required for the vaccines, the senator said.
“I think the good news is that the states have indicated where they want the vaccine to be sent, and they are, by and large, to stores like Walgreens and CVS, as well as to hospitals. So, it’s not being received, if you will, at a state warehouse,” he said, and goes directly to where injections will be provided.
Romney said the bipartisan group pushing the relief bill is deep into negotiations and expects to continue to work through the weekend on it. He met earlier in the week with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to explain the plan.
He said the greatest conflict comes on two points: Democrats pushing for more relief to state governments, which many Republicans oppose as a bailout to some wasteful places; and a GOP push for a temporary liability shield to prevent coronavirus-related lawsuits against companies, a measure many Democrats strongly oppose.
“I think there’s sort of two scenarios,” Romney said. “One is we pass our bill in total. The other is that [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell pass most of our bill, but they leave to the side state funding and liability” and possibly address those next year.
“I do think that we’re likely this year to get the major portions of our bill passed,” he said. “That includes unemployment insurance extension; the PPP program for small businesses; help for hospitals, particularly rural hospitals; financing for broadband; and help for tribes.”
“I can’t imagine senators or congresspeople are going home and celebrating Christmas knowing that people who are unemployed aren’t getting an unemployment check,” he said.
“I think it’s critical that we get this funding out for those that are unemployed, but also for small businesses. Restaurants, beauty salons, exercise facilities — they’re in real trouble and are going to be shutting down increasingly if we don’t get additional funding to them.”
He said even if the bill passes, this holiday season will be tough.
“I’m looking forward to people being able to celebrate a merry Christmas. I’m afraid a lot of us are going to be looking at grandkids on Zoom,” he said. “This is the last Christmas we’re going to have to do this if we get this right.”
He said that also depends on individuals doing the right thing, including continuing to wear masks and exercise social distancing.
“I think that given the fact we’re close to having a vaccine in place, and that we have exercised such restraint over the past nine months, that they’re becoming lax right now would be a big mistake.”
He added, “I know we’re all getting tired of the restrictions that we placed on ourselves. But if we can keep them in place for the next 30, 60, 90 days, we will be able to be safe and healthy and we won’t pass along the sickness.”
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Mitt Romney 'can't wait' to get the vaccine and expects Congress to approve new COVID aid soon - Salt Lake Tribune
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