USA Today/Gannett (Op-Ed): Relief for COVID-19 and democracy: Mobilize for USPS and voting support in next bill

As the late Rep. John Lewis lay in state at the Capitol Rotunda, Sen. Mitch McConnell took the floor to praise his life and work. “John Lewis lived and worked with urgency,” said McConnell, “because the task was urgent.“

The Senate majority leader moves at a much more leisurely pace. The House passed a new COVID-19 relief bill in May. The Senate, after two recesses, finally introduced a bill at the end of July. As of this writing, negotiations in Congress are stalled, and the president has issued new executive orders and memos.

Neither the proposed Senate package nor President Donald Trump’s executive actions include a $3.6 billion allocation for safe and accessible elections nationwide that was part of the House bill. These funds are essential for cash-strapped state and local governments and would be a fitting tribute to Rep. Lewis, who risked his life to win the right to vote for Black people.

In 2020, even during a pandemic, there’s no reason to force anyone to risk their life to cast a ballot or work at the polls. Safe, practical solutions are possible and essential as part of our national response to a deadly pandemic. Resources are needed for the costs of a surge in voting by mail, and for modifications needed to keep in-person voting accessible and safe for voters, election workers and volunteers.

Invest in democracy, not the wealthy

We are board members of the Democracy Initiative, a coalition of 75 organizations working for economic, racial and social justice, and to increase voter participation and decrease the influence of money in politics. We’re mobilizing our combined 45 million members, who are demanding safe voting, to ensure that $3.6 billion for election funding is included in the final COVID-19 relief bill.  We are also working to secure $25 billion to support the U.S. Postal Service, which provides vital infrastructure for all forms of voting.

This is not just about honoring a revered member of Congress. It’s about honoring the will of voters.  In the face of numerous, unprecedented obstacles — a public health crisis, orchestrated voter suppression and a new round of chaos caused by federal troops storming our cities – voters have turned out in large numbers in state after state  during this year’s primary season.

It is time for a unified call from all stakeholders to ensure elected officials meet this demand for safe, accessible voting. We certainly need to hear the powerful voice of America’s business community.  U.S. corporations, after all, have a strong stake in maintaining America’s long history of political stability — truly at risk this year — because it guarantees the business climate which has made ours the world’s largest economy. Wealthy corporations, who can afford to pour seemingly limitless sums into the electoral process, have long had an inside advantage when it comes to influencing Congress.

The failure of the U.S. Senate to make a modest investment in our democracy stands in sharp contrast to the huge sums flowing towards those who need it the least. Wealthy corporations have captured a large share of the federal spending that was supposed to help workers and small businesses. Companies are winning trillions in economic aid, including billions in tax breaks for fossil fuel polluters. And now businesses are pressing for protection against liability from COVID-related lawsuits.

Private sector pressure needed

In the midst of this maneuvering for private gain, we’re glad to see a segment of the U.S. business community speak for the public interest, with a call for Congress to provide the “necessary funding for safe voting upgrades.” But more private sector voices are needed join this chorus, with the full weight of their lobbying capacity and political muscle.

We are faced with an underfunded electoral system, a deliberate slowdown of the U.S Postal Service, and continued voter suppression.  This is unacceptable. No one should let stand overcrowded and unsafe voting places and an untold number of voters disenfranchised – especially in Black and brown communities.

John Lewis was willing to endure savage beatings to defend the right to vote. Our challenge to corporate leaders is much less daunting: Just dial your phone.

For those who now hold positions of privilege, your legacy will not be determined by how many socially aware advertisements you paid for, or whether you struck just the right tone on social media. Instead, ask yourself this: During one of the most challenging moments in American history, will you use your power and influence to create – for everyone — a safe, fair and accessible election?

Tefere Gebre (@Tefere_Gebre) is executive vice president, AFL-CIO; Gustavo Torres (@casaexec) is executive director, CASA; Karen Hobert Flynn (@KHobertFlynn) is president, Common Cause; K. Sabeel Rahman (@ksabeelrahman) is president, DEMOS; Erich Pica (@erichpica) is president, Friends of the Earth; Virginia Kase (@KaseVirginia) is CEO, League of Women Voters; Derrick Johnson (@DerrickNAACP) is president and CEO, NAACP; and Ray Curry is secretary-treasurer, United Auto Workers.The writers comprise the board of directors of the Democracy Initiative.