By Mike Garcia
When our economy was on the brink due to COVID-19, Congress in a bipartisan fashion provided small businesses, their workers and families with financial support.
Now that the politicians in Sacramento have decided to shut California down again – the only state to reach such a level – the question for them is: what are they doing to help our small businesses, their workers and families bridge this gap?
Unfortunately, what we are experiencing in the face of this new shutdown is that liberal politicians like Christy Smith are more focused on giving stimulus money to illegal immigrants, spending millions to enforce AB5 and funding for high-speed rail.
These same liberal politicians increased taxes by $3 billion and had a surplus of state government funds. Now we find ourselves asking: where is the state aid for our families and small businesses as budgets get cut and we face more shutdowns?
Wearing face masks, practicing social distancing, washing hands and quarantining if you have symptoms are a must, but our small businesses simply cannot survive another closing like this.
Christy Smith and her pals in Sacramento abdicated their responsibility by empowering San Francisco liberals to have complete control of state government via proxy voting, and every single day it shows.
Next week, I will return to Washington where I will work in a bipartisan fashion to secure more funding for our small businesses and their families, but it’s time Assemblywoman Smith and her liberal friends tell us what they are going to do to help as they insist on another shutdown.
About the author: Mike Garcia is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California’s 25th district, which encompasses the cities of Palmdale, Lancaster, Santa Clarita, Simi Valley, and the northern part of the San Fernando Valley.
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Morwalk says
Garcia was one of the members of Congress who voted against the Heroes Act. When the stimulus/recovery money was released, he allowed the money to go to large corporations rather than to small businesses. Mike Garcia doesn’t care about you.
What God is this? says
Trump is very godlike. Here’s why.
God doesn’t care about the 160,000+ Americans who have died from COVID-19, many unnecessarily.
Trump doesn’t care about them either. He hasn’t done what should have been done to save thousands of lives.
Therefore, Trump IS God.
You know how you get a silly answer when you ask a believer if God is all powerful, why does he let little children starve and others die from a pandemic. Doesn’t He answer their prayers? He does for football players who make a touchdown or entertainers who win awards.
The believers have an answer for everything which makes their answers suspect. They’re just making it up.
Connie says
I think Alby is nuts is correct. All of the posts I see from Alby do appear to be filled with hate and racism
Rats leaving the Trumptanic says
Trumpist@1 and Ron seemed to have disappeared. I guess Trump has embarrassed them so much that they gave it up.
Of course, we still have Alby and they probably didn’t want to be on the same team as him or her. Whatever.
Here’s some info for Alby who didn’t know why COVID-19 was called that.
“COVID-19 is an acronym that stands for COronaVIrus disease of 2019. ” It was discovered in 2019 during Trump’s watch and not any earlier. Alby can’t help it. He’s like Trump.
Mike Garcia is a coward for Trump says
On August 4, Axios’ interview with President Donald Trump was a major topic of discussion on CNN and MSNBC, and it also earned several headlines for Trump’s disastrous performance.
The Washington Post: Trump actually doesn’t appear to understand how bad the pandemic is
The Washington Post: Trump says coronavirus ‘under control as much as you can control it.’ His experts disagree.
The New York Times: Trump Assesses John Lewis’s Legacy: ‘He Didn’t Come to My Inauguration’
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Trump: ‘I don’t know’ how history will remember John Lewis
CNN: Jonathan Swan reveals the simple secret to exposing Trump’s lies: basic follow-up questions
CNN: Analysis: One big reason it was so enraging to watch Trump’s interview with Axios
The Guardian: Donald Trump flounders in interview over US Covid-19 death toll
Vogue: The 7 Craziest Things Donald Trump Said in the Axios Interview Everyone’s Talking About
Vox: “They are dying. That’s true. It is what it is.” Trump’s Axios interview was a disaster.
Business Insider: Trump replied ‘you can’t do that’ when his interviewer pointed out the US’s terrible record on COVID-19 deaths per capita
However, the interview was not substantively mentioned on either Fox News or Fox Business until the afternoon — and even then it was mostly used to push misleading narratives about mail-in voting, as the interview was presented on Fox’s website.
That’s your Trump, Trump cultists. Where are Ron and Trumpis#1? Has Trump been such an embarrassment that those 2 ran away and hid from us.? Hopefully never to be heard from ever again.
Dave says
Ably, what the heck are you talking about? You don’t make sense when you’re angry.
Alby says
Angry? You people keep deleting my non-profane comments because you are too sensitive to hear the truth about you all. Its like you’re writing the story of your lives to your liking. The angry and sensitive obama cult is working overtime to avoid shame. As if most Americans are stupid enough to buy it.
Robert says
Judging by the comments here I’m a firm believer there is no hope for humanity.
The Antelope Valley his a septic tank
Have a nice day
Orange man bad says
The liberal hive mind is strong in this comment section. ‘Orange man bad, orange man bad. Me so smart, war is peace, captivity is freedom, railroading someone because of politics is justice.’
So to every one I send this message with love… God bless Donald Trump and Roger Stone. Free Hong Kong. God bless America. Heck, even God bless you. Even you very sad pathetic ‘Orange Man Bad’ ones. Have a blessed day.
But as far as the Op-Ed this is part of. Yeah, our boy comes of little mindless and weak. But weakness is strength these days. We can bring Katy back. She would be great for this peanut gallery. At least she wasn’t such a retard to harp “Orange Man Bad’ nonsense all the time. That is probably why she got dumped. Usually scandals like this don’t do anything.
Orange is the latest fall color says
“Orange man bad” You got it.
He’ll match his orange jump suit perfectly when the New York prosecutors indict him for tax evasion, fraud and money laundering.
Can you tweet from prison?
Stinger says
You are endorsing a traitor to your own interests, not to mention the Constitution and the entire country.
To put it in your simplistic language: “Orange man traitor. Voting for orange traitor bad.”
As for Garcia; it appears that he has chosen to abandon his oath to uphold and protect the Constitution of the United States and has chosen to embrace evil.
Alby says
Its not surprising that socialist muslims see it all as evil. If it was all obamas idea, you would be praising him like if he knows best. You, like many others, are sheeple that would sell out this country if it benefited you. Muslims and socialists view Americans as traitors. To put it in simplistic languauge: “Stinger ignorant. Stinger will delete your comments if stinger feels offended. Stinger angry and sensitive.”
Stinger says
Alby (et al), you are making racist and political assumptions that belittle only you again.
As for deleting your ‘comments’… Ummm, sure. I don’t work at this site and have no more access beyond anyone else’s, but, sure, it’s lil’ ol’ me deleting all your racist, maniacal diarrhea of trumplicanism ravings… somehow.
It must really sting you to know that the founding fathers were liberals, huh?
Alby says
Liberal enough to not get their toes stepped on by outernational interests? Perhaps you’re right?. Perhaps you’re right. I’m glad to factor you out on “who” deleteded my [removed] prior comments. But nevertheless, if I’m the “diarrhea” that lets it all out, then you’re the prophylactic that keeps it all in. “In!” Look in the mirror and scream, “In!” With your butt sticking up in the air. No. No. I’m not racist. I’m biased. And [removed] that sting. Ive been bit worse(politically and socially speaking). But still it wasn’t you. Awesome!
Stinger says
It appears that Alby has been successfully stung. ;-)
Alby is broken record is a broken record, is broken says
The page intentially left blank
Alby says
Just like your mind.
Alby is broken record is a broken record, is broken... says
I ran Alby’s comment below through an “Insanity Detecter App” and he got a 100% insanity score.
“Liberal enough to not get their toes stepped on by outernational interests? Perhaps you’re right?. Perhaps you’re right. I’m glad to factor you out on “who” deleteded my [removed] prior comments. But nevertheless,blah, blah, blah…………………………………and so on?
“…outernational interests?” This is what happens to people who have their heads up Trump’s nether regions like AG Barr, Giuliani, Dr. Birx, Jeff Sessions, Linsey Graham and our very own Albykins et al. We sane people wonder what on earth happened to those people. They’ve lose their minds when they kiss up to Trump.
The good news is Trump and the rest will all be gone next year.
Notice I said Alby was a broken record and look above where he wrote “Perhap you’re right? (with a ? mark???) Perhaps you’re right. Twice in a row.
If we keep after him we might push him clean off the edge. He’s right there already.
Alby says
“In!!!” Just yell “In!” In the mirror. And magic orange boy will take care of the rest and tip you off the brink… Where do you need to linger on? I’ll bet yur hung like a Bee stinger. Such a mouthy cheek on your face. Where and how do I start to process you in this fiasco? You get to be a ride-along. Hell, why not?
Alby is broken record is a broken record, is broken says
I ran Alby’s comment below through the “Insanity Detector App” and it broke the app.
“”“In!!!” Just yell “In!” In the mirror. And magic orange boy will take care of the rest and tip you off the brink… Where do you need to linger on? I’ll bet yur hung like a Bee stinger. Such a mouthy cheek on your face. Where and how do I start to process you in this fiasco? You get to be a ride-along. Hell, why not?”
If that isn’t insanity in text form, then nothing is. Fortunately, he isn’t allowed near a church or school.
Lily says
How can you work in a bipartisan fashion when you don’t have a bipartisan mind-set congressman Garcia?
Dave says
Bingo!
Everyone here who feels similarly should send a letter to the Valley Press even if you don’t subscribe to it.
Otherwise the Trump cult in the Antelope Valley gets to own the conversation about Garcia. They don’t care what he does or doesn’t do as long as he’s a Republican.
Mike says
I read Garcia’s commetary and was disappointed. All he did was bash liberals, Christy Smith and rehash problems facing this state due to carvo. No solutions, no accomplishments, no bipartisanship. Just liberal bashing. Frankly, he comes across as a mini Trump. He needs to go.
Dave says
Exactamundo.
Garcia will be worse than Knight, just another potted plant in the GOP caucus. He would not have voted to impeach Trump .
He won’t criticize him for saying nothing about the Russian bounties for killing our soldiers. Trump could shoot someone on 5th Avenue in New York City and Garcia would compliment him on the nice shot.
It looks like he was selected by the RNC because he had no record and was a pilot to appeal to the AV and Simi Valley Republicans who don’t really care about anything but winning.
Read comments by Trumpist#1, Ron, and the rest of the Trump cult and that’s who voted for Garcia.
It doesn’t take any courage to be a Republican in Congress nowadays. Heck, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has a bigger set than Garcia. So does Christy Smith and any Democratic women in Congress.
Did you get his postcard. It said less than his commentary here. An empty suit. And, that’s exactly what Trump & Co. want.
Trump is a goner and we have to focus on getting rid of Garcia or we’ll have no representation in Congress as Nancy Pelosi will still be Speaker of the House. In that case, Garcia will collect a paycheck for doing nothing. like Knight did.
The TRUMP-45 virus has infected the entire Republican Party. They are chickens and they must be fried in November. Where’s the Colonel when we need him. Chickens just have no self respect.
Alby says
So, the Republican party are chickens for tightening border security and weeding out illegals and bringing jobs back to lazy bums that live to whine and complain while waiting for handouts? The obama virus is still lurking in the shadows. Covid should of been a pandemic years ago but everyone was complaining about global warming and flying to mars and paying their tabs. It wasnt of political interest back then to wear facemasks and take precautions as it would have offended certain races(particularly illegals and those related in the U.S.) during the last couple presidential terms. Now it’s politically important because its making the democrats look good. Its the classic game of “who ever smelt it dealt it” when before it was “he who denied it supplied it.” Own up to your sh!t Democrats.
Stinger says
So much insanity of Alby’s to unpack, so little time.
Interestingly, not a single sentence of that was even close to reality and, in fact, shows a remarkable instability of thought processes.
Classification: Parvus insanus troglodyte.
Alby says
So much sensitivity, denial, hypocrisy and eager responses from Stringer. Somewhere on you there is a string hanging out somewhere. I need not entertain your comments any longer as it’s a waste of time. Feel free to run your flabby mouth off. I’d rather be a reader speaking out about the topic and ignore salty keyboard warriors such as Stringy. God knows, how many other internet names you got. You probably debate yourself on this website for attention.
Stinger says
Again, Alby gets stung. Let’s be clear; don’t engage in silly behavior and you don’t get stung. I will entertain rational discourse based in verifiable information. Ad hominems get the sting.
…”salty keyboard warrior”… loved it. ;-)
Stone Free says
Garcia is doing a good job and most people support him. At least he wont be having same sex affairs and smoking dope while on the job like the way unqualified thing he replaced. Of course the liberals will bash him every chance they get. Mike is a good man, better that most politicians in California.
Dave says
Stone Free
And what is this good job Garcia is doing? You’re just typing about nothing.
He’ll just be a good boy doing what all the other republicans tell him to do. If would be shocking if he actually had the courage to speech out about Trump’s malfeasance, lying, and overall unacceptable behavior as president.
You’re right about 1 thing. He is better than Devin Nunes and Kevin McCarthy but that’s about it. But, he’s only been in office a short time. It’s likely that he’ll have not accomplished anything by November to run on. What, he’s on this or that committee. Wow!
ANONYMOUS says
We are in this position because it took Trump months to even start to consider taking action as a pandemic spread like wildfire through our country. Instead he blew it off and called it a hoax. Hell, he only JUST NOW advised the use of face masks.
If he wouldn’t have fired the epidemic response team that was put in place by the prior administration, we could have acted swiftly and prevented tens of thousands of deaths. But instead, he had to be petty and 86 it because it was something Obama put into place. Americans need to be able to look to their president as a leader in times like these when we are dealing with an unprecedented situation. But when they looked to him, they were told COVID 19 is no big deal, and he just watched as masks were turned into a political issue instead of a public health issue. If Trump was as smart of a business man as he says he is, he would have sold red MAGA masks and worn it in public.
Imagine where we would be right now if he took this whole thing seriously and did the right thing from the get go. Instead we are well on our way to 200,000 deaths. This entire situation was botched, and us Americans are the ones left to suffer. California is not the problem, a lack of leadership from the Trump administration is the problem. Small businesses are suffering because of gross incompetence from the very beginning by Trump. So the federal government needs to do more for them. We are the richest country in the history of the world, no? So it should be no problem. But oh, thats right, the top 1% need their tax cuts and need their workers to sacrifice themselves on the front lines for stock holder profit. Essential workers are expendable to them. Sorry small business, you’re just not rich enough in the eyes of the Trump administration.
The individual states are doing the best they can since they are on their own basically with very little executive leadership to guide them. Instead of making our lives a priority, ensuring adequate PPE to all and not just to the highest bidder, we are being told to test less and nurses are reusing masks (ask me how I know). Instead of attacking California’s response to the pandemic, why don’t you look to your side of the aisle and their shortcomings because frankly, this is their doing. If you really cared about small business, you would not perpetuate the deadly politicization of COVID. (Even though you personally acknowledged the need for masks, social distancing, and hand washing, your fellow Republicans are still perpetuating false information and dangerous politicization of a public health crisis). If you really cared about small business, you’d call your fellow R’s out instead of writing self serving op eds, and you would actually serve all of the people in your district instead of lobbing insults and placing blame.
Something I’ve learned in my career; if you are unhappy with something or see there’s a problem, come up with ways to solve the problem and approach the appropriate people to get it done instead of just whining and blaming. Your district is full of both Repubs AND Dems. So by turning this into a bitching session about Christy Smith and Libs, be an actual problem solver and work together. We are all Americans regardless of political affiliation. So instead of pandering to only 50% of your district, try actually representing us all. Human lives are the most precious and important part of our country. We will eventually recover economically, but we will never get back the lives we lost. I have encountered way too many people in YOUR district that still refuse to wear masks because “COVID is a hoax”. They always happen to be republican too. So maybe you can find ways to reach this group and convince them to wear masks. If everybody wore masks, we could lessen the spread and the small businesses you are so concerned about can operate. As long as a huge portion of this country refuses to wear masks and social distance, things will just get worse and we will have to shut down again. Not because we are wanting small business closure, but because we value human life above all else.
Alby says
A well profound and invigorating text that deserves attention. However, why wasn’t this thought up during Obamanation. The statistics were there before, the numbers were high, but it was blatantly ignored. You see, back then people were mostly concerned about flying to Mars and feeling “Hope” and getting free money. Back then when it came to covid, “ain’t nobody got time for that shyi!it!” Welfare was more important than job security and health measures. Ask any blood sucking lawyer in town that benefited greatly. But now, elements have gone dry and it’s of more beneficial/political/financial importance to bring up covid Now because the democrats Now have that ace in their hand. And, that 1% could use that financial kick back to further the pentions of those retired that have done their job(s) right as opposed to those that capitalize on their healable injuries and want free money honey. That’s value to responsible human life that truly earned it from their blood and sweat as opposed to the “gimme gimmes” that dont do jack[removed] for the American economy. Anyways, why wasn’t this viral issue brought up before? Why is it conveniently important Now?
Alby is a broken record, is a broken record, is a broken record.... says
What are you babbling about Alby? There was no COVID-19 during the Obama years. During the transistion, Obama warned numbskull Trump that another pandemic was going to happen and left in place a task force in the White House.
We had pandemics during the Obama years but we handled them and didn’t have an economic depression like with Trump.
Trump immediately got rid of the task force and did nothing for 3 years until this January when the first case appeared in this country. Then, he did nothing but call it a hoax and went golfing January and February. When he got around to having the press conferences in March, he just gave out bad information that Dr. Fauci and others had to constantly correct.
Remember how many times Trump said it would disappear in a week or by Easter or by some other made up date and then it didn’t? It’s gotten worse, Albykins you silly goose.
You Alby are part of the problem with your bs nonsense written in your fluent incoherent Trump-speak.
Trump has already lost the election and you have lost your mind.
BTW Dummy Alby, it was Trump who wants to go to Mars. I wish he would go.
Alby says
Dummy, Trump wasn’t even thought of back then in terms of presidency. He was too busy dealing with audits and letting go of properties that were losing financial reach. Where are you downloading your information from. God!!! And in your honest opinion, why do you think its called covid-“19”? As opposed to other numbers. Where and when does half of half of your intellectualisms kick in? Please spill it. I can wait. This whole pandemic was ignored by obamas administration because it would have been insulting for the first blacked president to tell his sheeple to wear masks. And of coarse they would have if he said it, but he didn’t because it was a pride issue… You know, having the first black president and all that jazzz. Really, this whole thing came up during the end of Bush’s second term. Read up and chew your socks. You obviously dont remember Obumers first couple years. You probably would have been to Mars by now if you open your stubborn earholes.
Laughing says
Alby, it is called Covid-19 because it was recognized in 2019.
Trump was in office then.
Trump eliminated the fast response pandemic team built by Bush Jr and Obama.
Trump needs to be replaced with a better option.
Sadly neither party is putting forward that better option.
Stinger says
bot.
Alby says
“They dont realize they’re the ones who’s square”
Dave says
I got a big, glossy mailing from Garcia today. It had pictures of his family, a lot words and said NOTHING at all.
He is going to pretend like Trump isn’t a disaster for the country and he’ll just keep quiet about Trump because he is a COWARD.
That’s the kind of House representative we don’t need at a time like this.
California already has some real clowns serving in D.C. like Kevin McCarthy and Devin Nunes. We don’t need another.
Agree! says
I agree, fellow constituents, don’t be fooled by his last name, he is nothing but a sell-out. Vote this useless moron out, we don’t need more Trunptards in power.
Stinger says
Oh God. We’ve gotten another Trumpican in our government. Fortunately, we don’t have to put up with this moron for as long as normal – vote this idiot out on November 3rd and put in someone with a brain in his skull, not just another ass.
He supports Trump = Traitor to the United States of America.
Period.
Trump = criminal says
Supposedly, being a pilot qualities him for being in Congress. Was he he that pilot in Airplane!, the one that asked the little boy “Have you ever seen a grown man naked?”?
I notice the RNC is selecting non-elected officials to run for the Congress this year: Garcia, Ronny Jackson, former White House physician they called “The Candy Man” cause he gave out meds and some Alabama football coash, Tommy Tuberville, who beat Jeff Sessions for the Senate seat.
Poor Jeff Sessions. Trump really kicked him under the bus and then ran over him a couple times. That’s how Trump treats his loyalists. Imagine what he thinks of his followers.
Trump is a criminal says
Mike Garia has got to go. He’s just another Trump minion and will be a useless representative in the House of Representatives when the Democrats retain the majority.
It takes little courage to be a Republican in Congress lately. Oh, they talk tough but they’re afraid Trump will send a tweet to upset them. And he will. And they will bend over.
Notyou says
Is that you Nancy?
Trump is a criminal says
Ol grandma Nancy Pelosi has a bigger set than either Trump or Garcia. She’ll whip Garcia into line if she even knows who he is.
He’ll likely stay under the radar and do what the party tells him to do. They could put a robot in his place.
Garcia can’t stand up for the Constitution if Trump violates it. He’ll get a tweetstorm the next morning. And, he can’t really do anything else being in the minority. Just like Steve Knight. Useless.
Trump is a criminal says
Speaker Pelosi has more testosterone than either Trump or Garcia. Garcia will be another silent minion doing Trump’s bidding like Steve Knight did and dare not utter a word of criticism.
It takes no courage to be a Republican lately. In fact, lack of courage is a requirement.
Bryan says
Nerd ^
Karen says
I’m glad theres at least one Republican to balance the extreme liberal agenda to keep killing babies and ruin our economy.
Karen is quite mistaken as usual says
Karen says that liberals are ruining the economy.
Is she clueless? Is she blind? Is she deaf?
The economy crashed in 87 on Reagan’s watch.
It crashed in 2008 on Bush’s watch.
It crashed again on Trump’s pathetic, inept watch.
Republcians have recessions every time and crash the economy every time the economy crashed. What on earth is Karen yapping about?
Quick. Somebody get Karen to assisted living before she hurts herself and take away her car keys.
Karen Karen Karen says
You know republicans don’t actually give a [removed] about abortion, right? They just say they do to lure in people like you who have an inability to think for themselves. I wonder how many abortions the party of family values have paid for their mistresses to get. I’m betting its a damn high number. Stop being a one issue voter and start worrying about the real problems our country is facing instead of pretending you give a shit about aborting clumps of cells. Women choosing what to do with their own bodies is not what is destroying America.
TRUMP = CRIMINAL says
Well said Karen Karen Karen.
They really are hypocrites. They ignore Trump caging small children at the border while pretending to be “pro-life”.
Actually, the only thing Republicans are pro is “pro-money and power”. The rest is just bait for the their base who sit there with mouths wide open.
Mike says
This Christmas you can choose between Malibu Barbie and Talking Point Karen. What’s your pleasure?
Stinger says
@Mike: I’ll take Malibu Barbie, please! Although they both have that vacuous stare, Malibu Barbie’s cuter and appears to have a better ability to think than Talking Point Karen!
Alby says
I think you would prefer the Ken doll. You seem like you would.
Stinger says
@Alby: Just because you two are hung the same does not mean that you are as handsome as your Ken doll. ;-)
Stinger says
Hey, Karen;
Spare me the ‘family values’ BS. If you really want to ensure that there are no abortions, why won’t your repugnican clowns ever support family planning education to PREVENT the need for abortions in the first place? IF they were serious about the issue, then preventing it would be the obvious solution for anyone who truly listens to our founding fathers…
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” – B. Franklin