April 11, 2020 Issue, Page 12 of 16

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Page 4 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Saturday, April 11, 2020 Resources available for small Opinion Page “ElkCituNews Serving Western Oklahoma since 1901 businesses, unemployed Gundy just the latest By Todd Russ, State Small businesses and non- following loan origination. can find additional resourc- House Representative, Dis- profits in all 77 counties in Note: These dollars are es, including answers to leader to leave us trict 55 With Oklahomans being the state that have been af- fected by COVID-19 can available on a first-come, first-serve basis. many frequently asked ques- tions. apply for Economic Injury wanting better asked to stay home except for essential trips to the gro- Disaster Loans and loan ad- For those seeking unem- ployment, here is a link to file Several of the normal re- cery store and the drug store vances. Payment on loans a claim: https://unemploy- quirements for receiving By Jenni Carlson, The Oklahoman and with all non-essential on these and any from pre- ment.state.ok,us<https://un- unemployment have been We expect greatness out of college football coaches. businesses closed because vious disasters can be de- employment.state.ok.us/>. waived at this time because Recruit superb players. Devise unbeatable schemes. Win of the COVID-19 pandem- ferred until Dec. 31, 2020. Please be aware that the of the pandemic. Additional lots of ball games. Contend for championships. ic, I've received many calls Applications can be found Oklahoma Employment benefits also are available But that’s not enough - we want them to be great leaders, from small business owners here: _https://www.sba.gov/ Security Commission is re- too. because of the federal relief Sure, being leaders of their programs and their teams and those filing for unem- funding-programs/disaster- ceiving tens of thousands of package. is important, but really, we have taken to seeing them as ployment asking about help assistance. calls and claims each week. I will keep you updated on leaders in our communities and our states. When tragedy during this challenging time. In addition, small busi- Their offices have been shut this and other information hits, we want to see them lending a hand. When sadness T wanted to share some re- nesses, nonprofits, veter- down to slow the spread of sources for both. ans’ organizations and tribal COVID-19, but their staff in the coming weeks. I pray descends, we expect to hear them offering comfort. that everyone stays safe dur- And when a global pandemic hits our shores and starts This website contains businesses affected can and is working remotely, and killing people by the thousands, we want them to be leaders much information on the should apply for Paycheck they are processing claims ing this time. amid the crisis. Paycheck Protection Pro- Protection Program 7(a) filed online as quickly as Thank you for giving me Maybe we should lower our expectations. gram that is part of the loans. Loan payments will possible. The governor last the opportunity to represent The coronavirus pandemic has shown us that college recently passed —_ federal be deferred for six months, week said he’s added extra you at the Capitol. God bless football coaches aren’t exactly a shining North Star. We stimulus bill as well as eco- and those businesses that staff to help answer calls and you, and God bless Oklaho- shouldn’t set our moral compasses around what they say nomic injury disaster loans maintain their workforce increased technology to help ma. If I can ever help you or do. and loan advances, SBA from Feb. 15 through June meet the increased demand in any way, please contact Last week, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said he had debt relief and much more: 30 will be forgiven the por- during this time. traveled from the South Carolina campus to his vacation https://www.sba.gov/page/ tion of the loan proceeds me at Todd.Russ@okhouse. This is a link to the com- home in Florida in recent weeks. He went in a private plane, coronavirus-covid-19-small- that are used to cover the mission’s website: _https:// gov<mailto:Todd.Russ@ something he said his family planned to do again for Easter. business-guidance-loan-re- first eight weeks of payroll www.ok.gov/oesc/. Here, okhouse.gov> or (405) 557- “The plane was sanitized,” he said. “We don’t have any sources, and certain other expenses employees and employers 7312. concern.” ‘Apparently, governor-issued stay-at-home orders apply to others. Then this week, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy rolled out a plan for his program that included bringing Will the cavalry arrive to help staffers back to their Stillwater offices on May 1, then bringing players back to campus soon after that. “They’re in good shape,” he said of the players. “They’re all 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 years old. They’re healthy. A lot of keep small businesses alive? them can fight it off with their natural body, the antibodies By Jon Healey, Los An- demic to pass. Bureau of Labor Statistics, rising in perpetuity. Now, and build that they have.” geles Times Except that it looks like which showed an increase the point is simply to use Apparently, evidence indicating young and healthy does ‘Are you a small business many desperate borrowers of 1.4 million idled workers banks and employers as a not always prevent death with COVID-19 applies to others. owner or employee scared are going to have to wait a and an unemployment rate conduit to deliver money to Ditto for the Big 12 edict banning all in-person activities stiff about the COVID-19 little longer for the help to of 4.4%, were based on data workers while the economy through May 31. pandemic putting you out of arrive. collected before states start- is in free fall. In both cases, there might not be any problems. Dabo work? Or a small nonprofit Nearly $350 billion for the ed issuing the stay-at-home Because at the end of the Swinney might go to Florida, return to South Carolina and or sole proprietorship? Good loans was included in the big orders that are choking the day, the government isn’t never have a problem. Mike Gundy might throw open the news - the cavalry rides in stimulus bill, H.R. 748. That economy. Adding the last planning to get its money doors to the football offices in a few weeks, bring everyone today! money will cover the costs two weeks’ claims would back. As long as at least 75% back to OSU and never have a problem. Well, some of them. May- of forgiving the Payroll Pro- more than double the unem- of a loan is spent retaining That could happen. be. tection Program loans and ployment rate. But so could something bad. Amidst one of the big- the fees paid to banks - from Washington is moving so or rehiring employees and maintaining payroll, and And the truth is, while each of these ideas is fraught with gest surges ever in U.S. 5% of the principal amount fast to get the program go- the rest on rent or mortgage individual peril, the bigger problem is the message that unemployment, banks were for loans of $350,000 or ing, though, it may have giv- and utilities, the SBA will these coaches are sending. In what they are saying and what scheduled to launch a new less, down to 1% of the prin- en too little attention to some federally guaranteed low- cipal amount for loans of $2 crucial details. forgive the principal. If you they are proposing, they are indicating they don’t believe borrow money through this coronavirus is a big problem. At least not for them. Oh, let interest loan program Fri- million or more. In particular, bankers are (Yes, it’s grating to see program, you'll owe only other people deal with it, but they’re going to go on with day to help small businesses saying the Small Business Administration wasn’t pro- the interest payments, which their lives, personal sacrifice to the greater avoid layoffs, furloughs and that the banking industry good be damned. pay cuts. The Small Busi- will once again be profiting viding guidance on how to are capped at 1% per year ness Administration’s Pay- from our misery. But banks evaluate would-be borrow- and deferred (along with any It’s a bad look. I realize both said things that spoke to the gravity of the check Protection Program, are far better equipped to get ers. With the feds guaran- principal repayments owed, the first tangible fruit of the these loan dollars out rap- teeing the loans, a bank may which could happen if a bor- situation. Gundy, for example, praised medical personnel in Stillwater, Payne County and beyond, and all of that is $2-trillion economic rescue idly to struggling businesses not care whether Struggling rower lays off workers) for bill that Congress recently than the government is, and Business X can repay it. But six months. great. But words become hollow when your actions - or the SBA might, and banks Here’s hoping that banks passed, offers businesses their services aren’t free.) your proposed actions - run counter to what you’ ve said and and nonprofits with 1 to 500 There’s a lot to like about needed to know that. digest the SBA’s tardy guid- what everyone is being told to do. employees short-terms loans the loan program, starting That’s why a number of ance document quickly- it’s I wish all college football coaches were setting a better that will be completely for- with the fact that it will keep banks have said they prob- only 31 pages, people! - and example during this time; whether they want it or not, peo- given if the money is spent people in their jobs. After the ably won't accept any loan get the loans flowing forth- ple far beyond the walls of their programs are taking cues mainly on their workers. bloodbath in the labor mar- applications Friday, which with. Independent contrac- from them. I wish all college football coaches were as good The loans would cover kets over the last two weeks, no doubt means some strug- tors and self-employed peo- during this time of national crisis as they are in their locker two months’ worth of pay- with 10 million people filing gling small businesses and ple are scheduled to be able rooms and on their sidelines. roll, rent and utility costs, initial claims for unemploy- nonprofits won’t be able to to apply starting April 10, so I wish they could meet those expectations. keeping even a mothballed make payroll. ment benefits, that’s a wel- banks need to get cracking. It wouldn’t make college football better - it would make company on life support come tonic. Friday’s unem- The agency issued an in- For more information on our country better. while waiting for the pan- ployment numbers from the terim final rule providing whether you're eligible, answers to that question and many others Thursday night, how much aid is available Letter to editor giving banks little or no time and how to apply, there’s an to digest the instruction be- online Q&A from the U.S. fore they were supposed to Chamber of Commerce. A start signing businesses up number of banks also are for loans. On the other hand, providing information about Reader seeks to set record straight on state bill ing was explicit: Any busi- websites, although in cases the guidance on underwrit- the loan program on their ness that met the program’s like this, the message Friday Re: PeaceVoice’s James high school students on the Christianity. reclaim a clear God honor- criteria in terms of size and was the not-so-helpful “We Haught’s op-ed published in Bible. This bill compliesBeing categorized as ei- ing Bible teaching before payroll could have a loan, aren’t accepting applications the Elk City News on March ther social or history elec- shirking the duty off onto the with no consideration for with federal regulations in for this program at this time. 7, 2020. which schools are not per- tives can cause theological government. its ability to repay. No col- Check back for updates.” Mr. Haught has taken his mitted to teach theology, or implication between differ- From what I've learned, lateral is required, nor any Others, like Bank of Amer- pleasure in misrepresenting promote or endorse or favor ent denominations, too. in reading of the "Danbury personal guarantees. And some key words in House any one religion over an- Let’s keep a positive per- Baptist letter" by Thomas banks can rely on the bor- ica, appear to be accepting Bill 4780. He states the Leg- other. spective on this, and hoping applications, but only from rowers’ certifications, rather businesses that already have islature wants to “force” But one main concern I there will prevail some mu- Jefferson in 1802, he stated than demanding other forms all West Virginia public have with this House Bill tual respect on forever learn- that the First Amendment of proof, to “determine eli- accounts there. Or in BoA’s high schools to teach Bible in West Virginia is with the ing. built a wall of separation to gibility of the borrower and case, accounts and outstand- classes, as occurs in several curriculum for the propose Since the Bible and prayer protect American's from an use of loan proceeds.” ing loans or credit card ac- other Republican-controlled Bible classes. Who is go- were essentially removed intrusion of government In short, these are the counts. states. ing to write the curriculum? from all public schools in This separation was _two- SBA’s equivalent of the in- Could it be that the pro- This chosen word “force” And with any intentions of the early 1960s, a 2020 cul- fold in direction. That being, famous no-document “liar gram doesn’t allow banks to is a complete falsehood. The misinterpreting or altering ture possesses a much differ- to keep government out of Joans” that fueled the hous- profit enough from our mis- House convened recently the Word of God? And what ent society today, that many the church and not to keep ing bubble. Back then, it was ery? to pass 27 bills, including about vetting for curriculum will not readily accept, like the "influence" of the church reckless risk-taking based on Jon Healey is the Los An- House Bill 4780 “offering” standards? it did embrace pre-1960, out of the government. the dubious assumption that geles Times’ deputy edito- [not forcing, as the Peace- Classroom teachers bring dating back to the founding Congress shall make no property values would keep rial page editor. Voice editor claims] but as another problem layering of America. I’m afraid the the mishandling of the Bi- political left bias of today is law respecting an establish- Have something to shares an “elective” for courses on Bible study. ble, as much of the main- too polarized and could will ment of religion, or prohibit- Senda eri dturecijenscom House Bill 4780 “per- stream teachers and profes- give false representation of ing the free exercise thereof. mits” school boards to “of- sors in America are trained the truth of God’s Word. fer” [again, not force] social in secular universities, many This needs to be entrusted Pauline Ringer studies elective courses to of whom are more hostile to to the church and parents. to Elk Citv