A.G. Gancarski
Florida’s senior Senator came out big Thursday in favor of Paycheck Protection Program money going to media companies.
In the afternoon, Sen. Marco Rubio tweeted a video in defense of “some newspapers and smaller media outlets” getting the loans.
“No conflict of interest for a media outlet to take a #PPPloan they qualify for. Accepting #PPP to help keep American workers from getting furloughed or let go does not require waiving constitutional rights such as 1st Amendment freedom of the press,” Rubio asserted.
Rubio mused that a reporter who left during a furlough and comes back would not have a conflict of interest, and he encouraged media outlets to get loans “regardless of what you’re going to write about me or anyone else for that matter.”
Earlier Thursday, Rubio had tweeted similar encouragement, saying, “If an eligible media outlet gets a #PPPloan it means they are keep[ing] Americans on payroll.”
In both morning and evening communications, the Senator noted that 30 million people had filed for unemployment in the last six weeks. Without PPP, those numbers could be worse.
The day before, in an appearance on “Fox & Friends“ on the Fox News Channel, Rubio made headlines with an off-the-cuff rumination about how unemployment benefits compare to the money to be made in some jobs.
“A lot of people are having trouble re-hiring workers because the workers are saying to them ‘I’m making more on unemployment,’” Rubio said.
The Senator quickly qualified his statement, saying that most people wanted to work, “obviously.”
Florida led the nation last week in first-time unemployment claims, with 432,000 new applications logged for the week ending April 25. All told, more than 1.5 million have made unemployment claims, creating an untenable crisis for all levels of government.
Media companies, including one of the biggest papers in the state, have grasped at the lifeline of a PPP loan.
The Tampa Bay Times, beset by decreased print schedules and furloughs, got $8.5 million in the first round of federal funding earlier this spring.
“This loan gives us more time to ride out the crisis before we have to make even more changes,” said Times CEO Paul Tash.
No conflict of interest for a media outlet to take a #PPPloan they qualify for.
Accepting #PPP to help keep American workers from getting furloughed or let go does not require waiving constitutional rights such as 1st Amendment freedom of the press. pic.twitter.com/4psCjAeS65
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) April 30, 2020
4 comments
Frankie M.
April 30, 2020 at 10:37 am
The Tampa Bay Times, beset by decreased print schedules and furloughs, got $8.5 million in the first round of federal funding earlier this spring.
“This loan gives us more time to ride out the crisis before we have to make even more changes,” said Times CEO Paul Tash.
Translation: It’s $bonus$ time baby!
Also yes to FAUX news no to PBS…sorry Diane Rehm 🙁
ShowMeTheMoney
April 30, 2020 at 11:55 am
Nancy Pillosi made sure that PBS got a windfall in the first PPP. They are now free to take more shots at Trump.
John Kociuba
April 30, 2020 at 5:49 pm
Florida needs a real Constitutionalist Senator not Cuban Communist Marco Rubio, I expected nothing less.
You don’t know this man! You only see his TV image. Marco Rubio sits on the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee!
1. Iraq
2. Afganistan
3. Libya
4. China
5. Coup against the President
6. Funding Communism domestically and globally
7. Propaganda media Newscorp, Comcast, Disney, At&T.
8. Massive Illegal Foreign National Invasion from Mexico
9. Failed war on drugs and Fentanyl pandemic
I COULD GO ON AND ON!
John Kociuba
April 30, 2020 at 5:53 pm
P.S. The Canadian sign is a signal to all his Communist Comrades that he still has their backs!
Canadians are COMMUNISTS! They don’t have freedom of speech! You can go to jail for criticizing corrupt officials…glad to see Rubio has their backs.
I would make it illegal for Canadians to own property in the United States so they don’t pollute our Constitution with their Communist indoctrinations.
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