Letters to the Editor: Cornyn should welcome plan's economic relief benefits

Cornyn misrepresented the scope

of American Rescue Plan's benefits

Re: Jan. 9 commentary, "What we got done in 2021."

As important as Juneteenth, missing service members and increased staffing at ports of entry are, I think they pale in comparison to the positive effects of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Cornyn wrote that the Act spent less than 10% on COVID. Politifact called a similar statement by Rep. Ted Budd "half true." Yes, less than 9% went directly to fighting the virus. But most of the other 91% went for "economic relief to businesses and people affected by the pandemic."

It seems to me that Cornyn and most Republicans should welcome that since the party put so much emphasis on actions helping the economy even though they were not helpful in fighting the virus.

Sen. Cornyn seems to be grasping at straws.

Joyce Lynch, Austin

The blame is with Donald Trump

and his right-wing media allies

Re: Jan. 9 commentary, "Jan. 6, institutions held – except media."

I read Marc Theissen's column in which he claimed the only institution which failed on Jan. 6th was the media, by which he means the mainstream media. He said all of society’s institutions held firm on that dark day, except for the liberal media, laying the groundwork for the insurrection by reporting on various derelictions by President Trump and sometimes drawing the wrong conclusion.

Many electrons could be spilled explaining why Theissen's conclusions are off-base. One obvious example: The Mueller Report expressly did not exonerate the former president. Are we to believe that biased reporting led thousands to assault the Capitol? Yes, but Theissen has identified the wrong media.

In the weeks before the insurrection, right-wing media repeated the lie that the election had been stolen even as Trump's court cases crumbled. Shame on Marc Theissen for trying to place blame anywhere other than the disgraced former president and his media allies.

Stephen W. Sather, Austin

These lawsuits are about politics,

not about workers' health and lives

Re: Jan. 8 article, "Supreme Court leery of mandate."

Vaccines save lives and reduce hospitalizations: they are currently the best protection against COVID-19, which has killed more than 800,000 and continues to kill more than 1,000 Americans daily.

Congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in 1970 to regulate workplace health and safety, including situations of “grave danger.” Why then did the “pro-life” Supreme Court justices question OSHA’s authority to protect the health and safety of workers by requiring vaccinations or COVID testing in workplaces with more than 100 employees?

These lawsuits are about autonomy and politics, not about saving lives and defending the Constitution.

Mike Field, Austin

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin American-Statesman Letters to the Editor: Jan. 14, 2022