Interview with KWBW

On the phone with US, United States, Senator Jerry Moran and Jerry Good morning to you. Nick Good morning to you. I hope things are well with you and your family well so far so good and I guess I'll ask you the same question because at least one member, I know for sure was diagnosed with this virus and I believe it was while you all were still in Washington. So how are you doing? that's nice of you to ask we're fine that that is is true true one one of of my my my colleagues colleagues colleagues Rand Rand Rand Paul. Paul Paul Paul Senator Senator Senator Paul Paul Paul Paul from. from from from Kentucky, Kentucky Kentucky was was. was diagnosed. diagnosed after taking. we. Kobe 19, but no contact with him and home from Washington DC now, and they're pretty well banished to the basement and I'm out in about very rarely but trying to communicate with people by visiting with people like KW BW so appreciate that opportunity having a lot of conversations by phone with my colleagues in Washington, DC or from Washington, DC and Syria. Conversations with people that we're trying to figure out what the next step off some of those conversations in fact, many of them are with Kansans and how this phase three Cares Act is working or not working what's going on in communities how I can be of help but also conversations for example, on Saturday with Doctor Redfield, the head of the Center for Disease Control conversations with the Treasury Secretary Terry Manoogian, so both talking about the economic side of what we're gonna. Through and talking about the health care side of what we're going through as we continue to work our way to make certain that Americans remain as safe and secure as possible. Resource allocation is the issue here simply because no one expected this to get as big as fast as it has in America and given that there is just not enough of certain things like personal protective equipment and ventilators and all of of those those sorts sorts of of deals deals and and on on the the. local. We've noted that it has taken some time to get federal response back to Kansas. What can be done to make that work faster as we deal with this well can I should say as part of this response is I've had conversations by phone with Ken Johnson, the CEO of the Hutchinson Regional Medical Center Conversations with Doctor Lee Norman, the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment ahead of our emergency emergency preparedness preparedness in in Kansas Kansas and all of the stockpiles as they were that were stored in preparation for a time of National emergency have been sent to the States. the stockpiles at this point, I have nothing more to provide Kansas has received significant amounts, although I keep trying to find out whether the word significant mean a large numbers of items of personal protection equipment, but I can't get anybody to tell me how much we ultimately are going to need whatever has been sent is inadequate. Meet the needs and we are now relying on the private sector. We're encouraging people to continue hospitals and public health departments and others to continue to make the request to the Kansas emergency preparedness officials for more personal protection equipment at the moment. the stockpiles are are are gone and have been distributed and the issue now is how quickly the private sector and volunteers and others can replenish that stock pile and every day we hear about. Businesses and others organizations that are in the process of building a manufacturing gowns and Mass, and so it is a it is part of this ongoing battle and it's why that isolation why staying apart from each other while washing our hands slowing. The spread of the virus is so important at this point in time is to give the country public and private the chance to catch up in having the equipment and tools that we need. That we wish we already had and we certainly will need in the future well given this is awfully the have forgive me for for outing you Jerry if people didn't know this, but the average age of United States senators is over 60, There isn't a single United States Center that are that was born in the 19 eighties or later the youngest is Josh Holly. He was born New Year's Eve of 1970, - nine, and, at least to this point based on the best epidemiological evidence we have the old. You are the tougher it is to deal with this virus, so has there been any consideration of changing the way The Senate works at least on a temporary basis to try to still get your work, which needs to be done right now accomplished well, there has been and there's been legislation introduced request for changes of rules, allowing members of Congress to vote electronically. None of that has been accepted yet I and we are on 20 - four hours call for return to Washington, DC I would expect Through phase one phase two and phase three the way that we're describing three sets of legislation that have been passed by Congress signed by the President. I would expect there is a phase four, and the expectation is that that is later this month so that has not been resolved and it is very difficult to do the work that we need to do by distance. yes, I like they keep abilities to vote electronically. I think exist some worries about. Security but the ability to have a conversation to have a classified briefing to negotiate to have Committee hearings and have witnesses in front of us to to get testimony from experts and expertise across the country. All that is very difficult and yet to be determined and you counter all those needs for us to to be together mean when we were meeting just a week or so ago, we were our votes were held. Long to allow senators to enter the chamber in very small numbers at any one time when we were together, we were certainly socially distanced and all of this is developed. You know you you said this earlier that we were flat footed not prepared. I think in significant part, Americans have believed that this kind of thing we'd be immune from or it will be quickly extinguished. this is something that happens in some place else in the world and the reality is. Is not true and the reason that we're we need to pay attention to our own public health when when when this is over whatever the words are for to describe that this is something that we have to invest more money in is public health. The Reno County Health Department is hugely important to combating this disease the tools and necessary medical professions and expertise is important to combatting this and other diseases. diseases. so so it it it is is is it it it is is is an an an opening opening opening experience experience. experience eye eye opening opening experience. experience. For the United States of America to be in this circumstance and we're gonna have to figure out how to do business differently and be much better prepared now. I'm gonna ask you the real tough question with about two minutes left Jerry and that is how do we balance the American desire for autonomy and civil liberties? with the desire for public health to be preserved because unfortunately through no fault of our own, we're all at this. Point because we don't know who's carrying the virus and who's not in theory threats to one another completely not of our own volition. So how do you balance those two things well, none of us like to be told what to do certainly none of us like to be told to stay at home and that balance is difficult because our behavior individual behavior now has a consequence, not just to ourselves, not even just to our families families but but to to to others others others around around. around us us. and so. I would say that we have to my my. my view of this is that we are testing a way in adequately when the CDC when you ask somebody about how how are you doing with test? They'll say well look we're abiding by the CDC guidelines and we're testing those at the CDC guidelines suggest we test that is because the guidelines are based upon the scarcity of tests and in my view that the best opportunity for us to get back to quote more normal. is for us to be tested broadly for us to do. Who is a carrier who is immune who's already encountered the virus and therefore immunity exist and that is the conversation much of the conversation. I had with the CDC director this week is how do we get much many more tests manufactured. I also would say, maybe not exactly what you're asking, but I worry that the magnitude of the spending the size and scope the increasing role of government through this crisis. sets the stage you never see very rarely seek government government retreat retreat once once once it it it does does does something something something something it it it it continues continues continues continues to to to to do do do do that that. that that and and and more. more more and and we we. need to be very cautious. I voted for things in this three packages that historically traditionally, I would not be supportive of, he says of because of size scope amount of money deficit debt that the government is encountering fair enough. United States Senator Jerry Moran with us and thank you so much for your time as well this morning Center, and of course, our microphones are always open to you. You can call us from any place. thank you Nick very much best to our to our listeners and please people do everything they can to to be safe.