This week, Issue One signed on to a crosspartisan letter to congressional leaders urging transparency and oversight of the forthcoming federal economic relief efforts amid the coronavirus crisis.
“Large-scale legislation that carries an unprecedented price tag necessitates an unprecedented level of independent oversight, not less,” officials from 32 groups across the ideological spectrum wrote in an April 6 letter addressed to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
The letter specifically called for any future federal legislation combating the coronavirus crisis to be “crafted responsibly,” and endorsed six principles for lawmakers to follow, emphasizing meaningful transparency, responsible spending, and working across the aisle. Specifically, it called for Congress to:
Focus on immediate relief, not larger policy goals.
Aim to provide targeted relief instead of stimulus.
Avoid the temptation of special benefits.
Enact measures that are temporary.
Emphasize meaningful transparency.
Account for the spending today.
The letter further stated: “Each of our respective organizations has preferred public policy outcomes that we work to achieve, but in this time of crisis, we all believe it most important to put aside our disagreements and focus on the shared goal of doing what is best for the country.”
The 32 organizations that signed this letter are as follows:
