To the Editor

Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter In Vern Schepmann’s article in the April 16

In Vern Schepmann’s article in the April 16 Independent-Reporter, he stated “It did not take long for President Trump and his friends to disband the previously established National Security Council’s Pandemic and Preparedness Unit”. I went on the internet checking for that information. I found that statement is not entirely true. I response to that statement I found this: “Tim Morrison, former senior director for counter proliferation and biodefense on the NSC wrote in the Washington Post Op-Ed “It is true that the Trump Administration has seen fit to shrink the NSC staff. But the bloat that occurred under the previous administration, clearly needed correction ... One such move at the NSC was to create the counterproliferation and biodefense directorate which was the result of consolidating three directorates into one, given the obvious overlap between arms control and nonproliferation, weapons of mass destruction terrorism, and global health and biodefense. It is the reorganization that critics have misconstrued or intentionally misrepresented. If anything, the combined directorate was stronger because related expertise could be comingled.” Another comment that was made about the change indicated it was better, more stream-lined.

I hope this gives some clarity to this.

He, Vern Schepmann, then went on to talk about leadership. Yes, he is right, we do need good leadership. So where were the democrats when the news about this virus was breaking? They were hell bent to impeach the president starting with some democrats calling for impeachment even before he took office. They started the impeachment process in November, 2019, finally ending the end of January, 2020. That impeachment was a sham. The democrats just cannot seem to accept the fact the unbeatable Mrs. Clinton, was beaten. During the impeachment very little was accomplished by the Congress. It was especially crucial during the Senate trial because the Senators had to sit there all day, day after day, so nothing was accomplished. Yet that was the time President Trump was ordering flights from China to cease. He was called a racist, several different phobias, etc. by Nancy Pelosi and other democrats. He was trying to deal with the virus issue but had no help from Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and crew. To top it off, Congress is not meeting now. They must think they are better than the truck drivers, the health care workers, etc.

Yes, we need good leadership. Congress, get back to work and do your duty and quit playing politics. Pass legislation that will benefit the workers, and small businesses, not the Kennedy Center, and other things that were added onto the last bill that had nothing to do with helping the people who were hurt by this virus.

Don Siemsen

Holyrood