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.

Two developments yesterday showed how it is possible for the federal government to gum up relief in the current coronavirus emergency.

And the developments do not have any partisan twist. They describe the ill intent on both sides of the political ledger.

There is no time like the present for Congress and the president to act quickly and effectively to respond to the pandemic.

The developments are:

First, Donald Trump has instructed the IRS to place his signature on all of checks coming from Relief Package #1, even if it delays transmission of the checks or makes it more difficult to process the relief.

There should be no surprise here.

Trump always wants to take credit for everything. No doubt he expects that Americans will be pleased with him when they get checks with his name emblazoned on the paper.

I won’t get a check, but this stunt says volumes about the leader of our country who demonstrates no understanding of the depth of the problem we facing. Empathy? He has none.

The second troubling issue was summarized in a piece for the Wall Street Journal by U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and Senator Tim Scott, Republican from South Carolina.

As Republicans, they blamed Democrats for wanting to gum up the works as Congress considers Relief Package #2.

Is this a partisan shot? No doubt it is, at least in part. But is the basic point still worth noting? Yes.

Here are excerpts of what McCarthy and Scott wrote:

“Small-business layoffs increased tenfold in March as economic activity shut down to prevent the spread of Covid-19. As Congress continues to address this crisis, we must replenish funds for the Paycheck Protection Program, the largest small-business relief package in American history. According to the Small Business Administration, more than one million loans have been approved, with more than $247 billion processed. The $350 billion Congress allocated is expected to run out by Friday.

“Everyone agrees the program needs more money. But instead of acting quickly to protect millions more jobs, Democrats are pressing for revisions that would make the program more costly, complicated and confusing for small businesses and their employees to receive loans in a timely fashion.

“Program participation is now a straightforward, three-step process. First, fill out a two-page ‘Borrower Application Form,’ which can be found on the SBA’s website. Second, make a copy of your payroll documentation. Third, submit the form and payroll documents to any lender backed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. This simplicity makes the program accessible for mom-and-pop shops that don’t have a government-compliance department.

“Democrats want to replace simplicity with more bureaucracy. They propose mandating that small-business owners submit personal data about themselves and other owners and investors to their banks and the federal government.”

I understand the intent of those who want to assure that Trump and his minions – or, for that matter, Members of Congress themselves – don’t take organize benefits for themselves.

But, watching from my position in the cheap seats out West, I wish Congress would act with all deliberate speed in the new relief package.

Too much is at stake to allow issues to gum up the need for quick action.

The first time around a couple weeks ago, Congress found the will to act quickly. Learn from history – repeat it.