As Congress weighs a new deal to add more funding to help small businesses amid the coronavirus pandemic, Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) on Monday blasted the fact that the well of money ran dry in the first place.
Zeldin told Fox News Channel’s “America’s Newsroom” the funding should never have been allowed to run out because small businesses across America are on “life support” due to the shutdowns.
“This money should’ve never been allowed to run dry this past Thursday,” Zeldin emphasized. “There are small businesses on life support right now and it’s about survival for them. If this money is not funded, you will have small businesses all across America that will not reopen.”
The New York representative criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) “out of touch” “posturing” and playing politics during the crisis.
“[Pelosi] should have never allowed these programs to run dry last Thursday,” stated Zeldin. “And this wasn’t a shock that the money was running out at the end of last week. We knew that several days out. So, the fact that we are here the next week and you have all of these applications that have not been put over the finish line because of this delay — this is inexcusable. It should not be used as leverage to try to get other funding items. It’s essential that this money gets done right away.”
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