As a businessperson creating jobs in this economy, I can tell you a stimulus that doesn’t help *workers* is not a stimulus. Americans need a bill that addresses their emergency situation - unemployment, lack of healthcare, housing bills, etc. Here’s what we should do ASAP: (1/8)

First, we must keep Americans in their homes. That means ensuring residential rents & mortgages are frozen during this time. Homelessness is already way too rampant & one of the darkest stains on our society (even before #COVID19). Housing is a human right. (2/8)

Next, the government must stop this crush of layoffs. That means more generous payroll subsidies. We have to make sure American workers & small businesses continue to draw salaries & revenues during this transition, so the economy can keep humming once we get through this. (3/8)

It's good to stimulate worthy businesses, but we should make sure those receiving funding are good actors focused on hiring & paying good wages, rather than padding executive paychecks. And businesses of a certain profitability should pay more in taxes (mine included). (4/8)

Then there's healthcare. For individuals, we must expand Medicaid & Medicare so everyone (including the recently laid off) is covered, and mandate full coverage for #COVID19 treatment (not just tests). For the public, we must invest in COVID-19 testing & PPE immediately. (5/8)

Let's get real about cash assistance. A one-time payment of $1200 is not nearly enough for most families in much of the country, to weather this storm. We have to increase that considerably, and we must invest in SNAP (food stamps). This is a matter of life & death. (6/8)

Finally, we must protect our election system. This may feel far off now, but believe me - we'll all wish we focused on it when we still had time. Hopefully, in-person voting will make sense in the fall, but we must prioritize and defend vote-by-mail for 2020 immediately. (7/8)

We must get our country back on its feet now. This is no time for small-ball, or politicians leaving town for recess. People are dying. Others starving.

It's time to invest in people & do what government is designed for: support those most in need in times of crisis.

(/END.)