GOP Liability Protection Provision in Coronavirus Aid Bill is Terrible - Business Insider

[Mike 03]

Business Insider
Ed Mierzwinski, Opinion Contributor
Aug 9, 2020, 8:26 AM

The GOP is trying to shove a disastrous provision into the newest coronavirus aid bill that would make it almost impossible for workers to fight back against their employers if they catch COVID-19 on the job

While we're definitely not there yet, but at some point all Americans will return to work. It shouldn't happen until we have the virus under control, until we have brought infections way down, until we have increased our testing and tracing capacity to stamp out any future outbreaks, and until we have personal protective equipment (PPE) for all essential workers — from hospital workers to grocery clerks.

But when America does return to work there should be an additional condition: Consumers and workers must have peace of mind that businesses are taking reasonable steps to protect them.

You'd think that would be a no-brainer. But, shockingly, the US Chamber of Commerce believes otherwise. The chief lobbying group for companies across the country is demanding that Congress immunize firms from pandemic-related liability lawsuits — making it nearly impossible for workers who might get coronavirus on the job due to their employer's mistakes to sue.

What's worse, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell agrees with that powerful special interest. Specifically, their hope is to pass sweeping business immunity from COVID-19 lawsuits. Further, McConnell insists it be part of any new pandemic aid bill.

Giving companies a free pass

Currently, our liability system is state-law based. State laws are not exactly the same, but a company that exercises reasonable care to protect workers or consumers would not face negligence claims while one that cut corners or failed to comply with regulatory guidelines would.

The provision being pushed by the Chamber and Republicans in Congress would substitute a federal court scheme that would only hold companies accountable for pandemic claims when they were either grossly negligent or committed intentional misconduct.

Read more: https://www.businessinsider.com/gop-liability-protection-provision-businesses-workers-coronavirus-aid-bill-terrible-2020-8?amp

[SheltieLover]

1. Plantation mentality

Shut up & work. 🤬

[Delmette2.0]

2. They know how contiguous the COVID-19 is!

That is why they want liability protection. They don't to spend an extra dollar protecting the employees and customers they rely on to make $$$.

[crickets]

3. The "human capital stock" is expendable, dontcha know.

Ultimately, the call for immunity is premised on a false choice between the return to a healthy economy and allowing businesses to be held accountable if their carelessness causes people to get sick.

Companies' purported concern about lawsuits leading to catastrophic bankruptcies is a smokescreen for an opportunistic attempt to use the anxiety that we all share today to push through a revolutionary law that will weaken protections for us all.