Covid money

To the editor:

Hello, this is Huhnkie Lee, who is running for Alaska State Senate for Greater Wasilla area.

The federal government sent Alaska state government a big CARES Act money to relieve loss from the Corona virus pandemic.

We know the money is there but it’s not being handed out yet. The federal regulation says the money should be used to relieve the loss from the pandemic. So I guess state/city/borough legislators are struggling to come up with rules and criteria to accept/reject Alaskan applicants for the Covid Money. And that is delaying the money handout, it seems.

But there is an alternative suggested by others and I think it is a great idea: hand out the Covid Money to everyone, just like PFD. That way, everyone gets the money quickly, and it’s simpler for legislators. When everyone gets the money, they will spend it by buying things and paying bills. Such increased expenditure will help out both small and big businesses in Alaska.

But if the Covid Money goes through the usual channel of the top-down approach, like the state government distribute to borough agencies, from boroughs to cities, from cities to communities, then well, some money may get lost in transition, because there are just too many hands in the chain of custody.

There is also a danger in entrusting big, influential, well-connected individuals with the Covid Money. Even if governmental agencies are fully honest and come up with application procedure and vetting rules for Covid Money applicants, most people in need of that money may not aware of such procedures. If not enough people apply for Covid Money, and the money sits there for a long time, it may be likely that the stale Covid Money would find its way to the deep pockets of big corporations or wealthy individuals or powerful politicians who don’t really need the Covid Money.

A healthy economy is all about circulation of money (for a human body to be happy, healthy, and pretty, it is all about circulation of blood, water, air, and nutrients in the body. That is why healthy diet and regular exercise is recommended). So yes, divide the Covid Money by the number of this year’s PFD applicants. Cut the checks and mail them out. Let people get the Covid Money and spend it the way they see fit. Then Alaskan economy shall recover.

— Thank you, God Bless!

Lee Huhnkie, Wasilla