OPINION Spread COVID-19 Vaccines Worldwide
NEWS USA TODAY TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2021 7A OPINION
TODAY'S DEBATE: AMERICAN JOBS PLAN Our View: Hard questions for solid infrastructure proposal
Republicans had their dictionaries subsidize wind turbines and solar en- ready when President Joe Biden un- ergy. But the reality for transitioning veiled his far-reaching plan to restore America’s million-worker auto indus- and build American infrastructure well try is that about a third fewer workers into the future. Infrastructure, you say? will be needed to build the less compli- Why, only a small fraction of the $2 tril- cated electric vehicles. And hourly lion investment targets roads and wages in renewable energy jobs like bridges and ports — “Things that you building wind turbines pay less than and I would say is real infrastructure,” constructing a fossil fuel energy plant. said Russell Vought, the former director How will Biden square those deficits of the Office of Management and Budget with union supporters? in the Trump administration. h Regulatory vs. market-based. To And that was their best shot — a push the electricity sector to net-zero pinched view of infrastructure that dis- carbon emissions by 2035, Biden qualified whatever else was in the would institute emission standards on American Jobs Plan. energy production. But if he’s left with MIKE THOMPSON/USA TODAY NETWORK Yes, a portion promises fixes for passing his infrastructure plan 20,000 miles of roads and 10,000 through a process known as budget bridges; and billions of dollars in im- reconciliation, where only a simple provements for ports, waterways, rail majority of Senate votes is necessary, and airports. But who wants to tell the a regulatory framework might not 35% of rural families or the 25% of stu- comport with reconciliation process Spread COVID-19 dents who don’t have internet access requirements that the legislation re- that the plan mustn’t build out afford- late to taxes and spending. What able broadband because it doesn’t meet would comport and what Republicans vaccines worldwide the definition of “real infrastructure”? and this Editorial Board have long And there’s certainly the infrastruc- urged is a market-based idea: a re- Juan Manuel Santos Today’s unprecedented pandemic — ture of energy production and transpor- fundable national carbon tax. Why 2016 Nobel Peace Prize winner that has killed over 3 million people, tation, two major contributors to skies does the plan ignore that option? pushed tens of millions into destitution polluted with heat-trapping greenhouse h Short on details. One of the most Every leader’s legacy is defined by and is threatening deadly new out- gases from the burning of fossil fuels. As striking features of the American Jobs great challenges. President Barack breaks — demands unprecedented one of the leading carbon polluters, the Plan and the single biggest expendi- Obama led the rescue of the global measures. Full support of intellectual United States must cut emissions by ture is $400 billion to solidify the economy in the aftermath of the global property protections by rich nations is half this decade to have a shot, with the home- and community-based care for financial crash. Chancellor Angela failing us all. It is preventing efforts rest of world, of preventing the most aging and disabled Americans. Not Merkel led the welcoming into Germa- from using available capacity, and up- catastrophic climate changes. only is this sector wholly unprepared ny of refugees fleeing war when few scaling it, to make vaccines around the Biden’s response is to begin weaning for a rapidly aging population, but would. President Nelson Mandela led world. Let us be bold: Standing by phar- transportation and energy production caregivers who are disproportionately South Africa out of apartheid and maceutical monopolies in a global pan- off fossil fuels by, among other things, women of color are also paid rock-bot- made peace with his longtime adver- demic is allowing people to be killed advancing the transition to electric ve- tom wages with a median salary of saries, as we did in Colombia. when they could be saved. hicles and sponsoring research into $17,200 a year. Biden’s proposal prom- Today President Joe Biden has on Global solutions based on charitable emissions-reducing and climate resil- ises more jobs and better wages and his shoulders not one but many ex- donations, or supporting the very lim- ience technologies. benefits. But with the exception of traordinary tests of unparalleled scale. ited COVAX initiative, are certainly The president is offering improve- calling for an expansion of Medicaid Not a hundred days have passed in his helpful. But far from enough. What is ments that so far appear to resonate long-care services, there’s little else on administration and already — fortu- truly needed is qualified manufacturers with Americans, much as did his how this major goal would be nately for the world — we are seeing over the world being able to produce $1.9 billion COVID-19 relief package de- achieved. So why no guidance for what leadership looks like: domestic COVID-19 vaccines. spite lockstep Republican opposition. Congress on this crucial issue? action to control the pandemic to glob- Times like these are when strategic Moody’s Analytics estimates that, along Beyond first-impression shortcom- al efforts toward tackling climate action is needed. It is governments, es- with the relief plan, the infrastructure ings, however, Biden’s plan remains a change and pursuing progressive cor- pecially U.S. taxpayers, that over- proposal will create 3.3 million jobs over muscular and, yes, big-government ef- porate taxation. whelmingly funded the development of the next 10 years. The nonpartisan Cen- fort to provide America a competitive The most urgent test, however, that COVID-19 vaccines. A waiver, on a tem- ter on Education and the Workforce edge over 21st century global rivals like still needs leadership from the inter- porary basis until the virus is eliminat- says the plan could save or create 15 mil- China and a vital foundation for finally national community is action to end ed, would be a pragmatic and effective lion jobs. dealing with climate change. the pandemic. We must feel ashamed global solution. It is greatly encouraging Nonetheless, hard questions remain. Biden, who’d pay for his plan over with the state of global vaccine rollout: that the Biden administration is consid- Here are just a few: 15 years with a corporate income tax 86% of all vaccines have gone to the ering supporting a WTO waiver propos- h Green jobs. Biden promises good hike to 28% from 21% (an idea a major- richest nations with only 0.1% reach- al by South Africa and India. We hope paying union work will result from his ity of Americans so far favor), has ev- ing lower-income countries. Most poor other countries join and follow through. tax incentives to juice the electric car in- ery right to call his proposal a means of countries face waiting until at least dustry and build 500,000 charging sta- rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure. 2024 to have their people immunized. Economic sense tions by 2030, or extend tax credits to It deserves serious consideration. Some might never get there. The world is not short of leaders Supporting such actions to swiftly taking admirable measures to beat the make available a vaccine to everyone, Opposing View: No need pandemic within their borders. But everywhere — a true people’s vaccine — ending the pandemic cannot be would make the United States and the to reinvent the wheel achieved in any one country alone. rest of the world safer and more pros- COVID-19 anywhere is a threat to hu- perous. It helps prevent new COVID-19 ments in roads, bridges, ports and wa- manity everywhere. As has been said, variants from developing, which even terways. Less than 6% of the $2.2 tril- nobody is safe until everybody is safe. threatens the already vaccinated. lion plan would invest in roads and And defeating it inextricably relies on It also makes economic sense. To- John Thune bridges, and the most expensive U.S. leadership. day’s vaccine inequality could cost Senate Republican Whip pieces stretch the meaning of infra- That is why I joined more than 170 $9.2 trillion in global economic losses. structure far beyond how everyday former world leaders and Nobel laure- The United States could lose up to as Americans would ever define it. ates from every continent to encour- much as $1.3 trillion in gross domestic If President Joe Biden sincerely Some items are worthy of biparti- age President Biden to play the role product, and $2,700 per person in wants to address our country’s infra- san discussions. But it’s an abuse of that only he can: Scale up the supply of household spending this year, which is structure needs, he doesn’t need to rein- the term and, frankly, insulting to the safe and effective vaccines, and give $1,300 more than the recent stimulus vent the wheel. Lawmakers historically American people’s intelligence to de- people across the globe the chance to check that each American received from work across the aisle to invest in infra- scribe billions of dollars for a “Civilian wake up in a world free from the virus. President Biden’s administration. structure, and one doesn’t have to look Climate Corps” and for schools to elim- A WTO waiver to allow the transfer of far for recent examples. inate paper plates as “infrastructure.” Temporary WTO waiver vaccine technologies and a coordinated Four months ago, a divided Congress Critics argue that Republicans are investment in their manufacturing passed comprehensive legislation in- nitpicking the meaning of infrastruc- What we are asking is for President would be seen as a profound act of much vesting in ports, harbors and water- ture. Count me as someone who be- Biden to support a temporary waiver at needed solidarity with a very distressed ways. Recent infrastructure packages lieves you should be straight with the the World Trade Organization of intel- world. Not only the United States but have garnered widespread, bipartisan American people if you’re asking for lectual property rules on vaccines and the developed world as a whole would support because Republicans and Dem- one of the largest tax hikes in genera- technologies. This combined with U.S. be wise to follow. ocrats alike understand that infrastruc- tions to pay for one of the most expen- leadership on both technology transfer Indeed, this is a great chance for the ture is key to our economic prosperity. It sive proposals in American history. through the World Health Organiza- U.S. to regain its global standing. Coun- enables South Dakota’s commodities to You don’t have to be an economist to tion, and a coordinated investment in tries and citizens in every continent will reach markets around the world and understand the highest combined fed- the distribution of manufacturing ca- long remember where the oldest de- tourists to visit our majestic state. eral-state corporate tax rate in the de- pacity, would allow the world to pro- mocracy stood in their hour of need. Let me be clear: A bipartisan infra- veloped world would crush job growth duce billions more vaccines — partic- I have had the privilege of working structure bill is possible if Democrats when it’s needed most. ularly in the developing world — so we closely with President Biden, as vice are interested in working with Republi- Our country needs to get back to can beat this virus everywhere. president, and before, as a relentlessly cans on traditional infrastructure such work. One way to do that is through a Nobody should take this call lightly. committed champion of peace and se- as roads and bridges, and even modern serious infrastructure proposal tai- We all believe in the power of free mar- curity, and as a friend. The world is for- infrastructure like broadband, if done lored to actual needs. If the White kets. We recognize the industrious role tunate to have him at the helm today. correctly. The proposal from the White House will work with Republicans, to- of the intellectual property system in With fellow world leaders, I ask him House, however, misses the mark on our gether we can expand infrastructure stimulating innovation, including, of to take the urgent action necessary to infrastructure needs and undermines and economic opportunity — instead course, for medicines, that has helped end this pandemic for all. That would be the opportunity for cooperation. of the federal government. foster economic and technological a legacy to be proud of. Their proposal would spend more John Thune is a Republican senator progress. But the system in this case is Juan Manuel Santos is the former taxpayer dollars subsidizing and pro- from South Dakota and the Senate Re- not delivering and cannot be protected president of Colombia and the Nobel moting electric vehicles than on invest- publican Whip. at all costs. Peace Prize winner in 2016.
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