Why don't all the Blue State Governors, and any other willing Governor like Charlie Baker, get

[OnDoutside]

together, and agree to pool the purchasing of PPE, ventilators etc, through one of them, to stop the bidding war ? Plus they can move supplies between each other, like ventilators.

Yes that's what the Federal Government should be doing but Trump is stopping them at that level.

[pnwmom]

1. Because they, unlike Trump, don't have the Defense Production act, and the ability

to order companies to retool for producing critically needed supplies.

The companies have them over the barrel.

[BigmanPigman]

2. So does tRump.

I really want someone to beat the crap out of him (repeatedly). I am a 5'1" female and a pacifist and I want this, badly! I have never felt like this about anyone before him...this the level of hate is new to me and I really HATED Bushes1&2 and Reagun. He is worse than them and Nixon combined.

[pnwmom]

3. I would give anything to go back to any of them. They are just normal people with serious flaws

and positions I strongly disagree with.

Trump is a monster.

[smirkymonkey]

4. What Trump is doing to the states just angers me to no end.

It is indefensible. We are undergoing a national emergency and he is playing politics and toying with the governors of states that he holds personal grudges against. That is not how a president or a leader should ever behave.

He is also looking for a way to make a profit for himself and his family off this tragedy which should be a federal crime during a time like this. Has there ever been a more contemptible president in the history of this nation? His behavior enrages me. I can't even say what I wish his fate to be. I completely understand where you are coming from.

[Scarsdale]

8. I agree with you.

As soon as he shows up for one of his "appearances" I start swearing. I LOATHE him with a burning passion. Those fools who stand behind him, nodding their heads annoy me too. tRump is a braindead idiot.

[SunSeeker]

7. But the states can still pool their bidding; they don't need the DPA for that.

[OnDoutside]

9. Exactly. Pool what you can pool.

[pnwmom]

10. But they can't force the companies to work for them at a REASONABLE price or to limit their exports.

Only the Feds can do that.

[OnDoutside]

11. Cuomo was saying that he put in an order at $4, and then he was outbid by another state, at $5, who

was outbid at €6 a unit. i.e. they're participating in a bidding war.

[pnwmom]

15. And suppose a group of states here banded together.

They would be in a bidding war with the rest of the states AND with other countries around the world.

China has been making most of the world's masks, for example -- but they're keeping most of them there now, so we're not the only country having a shortage.

[OnDoutside]

17. It would encourage the other states to join them, and even if the US Government were doing their

job, they would be bidding against other countries anyway. However, Cuomo was talking in terms of bidding against other states.

[pnwmom]

19. The Defense Production Act would allow the Fed. govt. to require companies to sign contracts

and not ship the products overseas. The states couldn't exercise that kind of control.

[OnDoutside]

20. I agree with all that, but where the States are now (i.e. Trump blocking Fed intervention), states

can do a little of that by pooling their sourcing of equipment.

[True Blue American]

13. Trump has them over a barrel!

Because Trump will not invoke the act they are all competing against each other. If he invoked it the supply line would stabilize.

Trump was on Hannity last night complaining about those Governors. People need to boycott his sponsors. Shut him down.

[wnylib]

21. They can still unite to work

together on locating supplies, suppliers, and manufacturers. There are foundations and individuals who are donating money. The governors need to request that the donations be targeted at the manufacture of ventilators. We, as a nation, need to circumvent the sadism and incompetence of Genocidal Trump and his Death squad.

[True Blue American]

22. They are trying.

Meanwhile Trump is calling them nasty names, complaining they are not nice to him.

[wnylib]

23. Yes, I know. I am in NY state.

[True Blue American]

24. AOC

Just spoke on the House Floor. Most in both parties are speaking in favor of the bill.AOC shamed the $500 billion bailout.

[wnylib]

25. Yes, I read about that.

[rockfordfile]

5. Trump and bush are the same. Starting a war based on lies is pretty big criminal act.

[royable]

6. I was just about to post the exact same thing.

I've thought about that a lot over the past few weeks as the crisis has deepened due to covid-45's criminal behavior. I've also thought that this consortium of states could have knowledgeable spokespeople provide factual information to the public to counter the misadministration's lies.

[OnDoutside]

12. Andy Slavitt, who did great work on the ACA, is on the latest Preet Bharara podcast. He would be the

perfect person to do it.

[True Blue American]

14. Guess what else has slipped through the news?

The Senate was getting ready to vote on the bill. Chuck Schumer noticed that paragraph was not in the bill. He held it up for 2 hours until they printed it in.

Clerical Error was the reason given.

[OnDoutside]

16. Republican Clerical Error....what are the chances ?

[True Blue American]

18. I do hope Preet

Is in the next Democratic Administration! What a great AG he would make to clean up the DOJ after Barr!