PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon, as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.

Back in the day, when I worked for state government in Oregon, I remember what one of my management mentors told me.

He said the “easiest thing in the world to do is to be cynical about government.”

His reference was mostly to state government where we both worked at a fairly high level. But his comment could just have pertained just as well to government at all levels.

Cynicism is easy. Constructive assessment is far harder.

These days that includes assessing the federal government as all of us “good government, centrist types” – my label for myself – look for smart, concerted action from the Nation’s Capitol, even if the result is not perfect.

We got it last time around on Coronavirus Relief Legislation #1. Will we get it this time as Members of Congress consider Relief Package #2?

No one knows.

However, excerpts from a Washington Post story this morning give rise to just a bit of pessimism. Here are a few excerpts:

“House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held her ground Wednesday and refused to buckle to the Trump Administration’s demand for swift congressional approval of $250 billion in additional funds for small businesses, urging Republicans to continue negotiations on more relief to minority-owned companies and others struggling to secure loans during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Pelosi’s remarks left the request by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in jeopardy, with the speaker prepared to wait on action in the House until Republicans move closer to her position. She is calling for changes to the GOP proposal plus an additional $250 billion that would benefit hospitals and states as they seek to increase testing and buy supplies.”

Pelosi added this, using a telling phrase “ossify inequality:”

“I have said very clearly: What they are proposing will not get unanimous consent in the House. There is no reason why they cannot come to the table and see the value of what we are offering. You cannot expect us to ossify inequality in access to capital as we try to fight the coronavirus.”

Despite Pelosi’s protests, it appears the Senate, led by Republicans, may move ahead with its own plan. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell may attempt to approve Mnuchin’s proposal by unanimous consent, a dynamic by which legislation can pass as long as individual senators do not object.

But New York Senator Charles E. Schumer, the minority leader, unveiled his own list of demands on Wednesday, which included asking for half of the $250 billion sought by the administration to go through community-based financial institutions serving farmers and family-, women-, minority- and veteran-owned small businesses and non-profits.

His list also included $100 billion for hospitals, community health centers and other health systems to increase testing and needed protective gear and equipment; $150 billion more for state and local governments; and a 15 per cent increase in food stamp benefits.

Is there middle ground here?

I hope so.

As I said the last time around, I hope the zeal to find the perfect solution does not become the enemy of the good solution. The effects of the coronavirus demand it.

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And this footnote: Why, in retirement, have I focused on this from my post in the cheap seats out West? Well, for two reasons. First, I am a political junkie, so how political organizations move is of interest to me, including in response to what is a clear emergency.

Second, in my role as a member of the Executive Committee of the Oregon Golf Association Board of Directors, I have been involved in efforts to evaluate advocating that non-profit organizations not be left out in Relief Legislation #2 as was mostly the case in Relief Legislation #1.