By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — U.S. Senator Jerry Moran is closely watching and trying to strike a balance between the traditional American idea of autonomy and civil liberties and the desire to mitigate a threat that could be lurking in any one of us, that if we are asymptomatic, would be completely unknown.
"That balance is difficult, because our behavior, individual behavior, now has a consequence, not just to ourselves, not even just to our families, but to others around us," Moran said. "I would say that my view of this is that we are testing way inadequately."
Moran's concern is that the CDC guidelines themselves don't allow for enough testing.
"The guidelines are based upon the scarcity of tests," Moran said. "In my view, the best opportunity for us to get back to, quote, more normal, is for us to be tested broadly, for us to determine who is a carrier, who is immune, who has already encountered the virus and therefore, immunity exists."
That's why Moran spoke to CDC director Dr. Robert R. Redfield. He also has a concern that government is being allowed to grow in the emergency that will be tough to shrink when it's over.
"I worry that the magnitude of the spending, the size and scope, the increasing role of government through this crisis, sets the stage," Moran said. "You never see, very rarely see government retreat, once it does something. It continues to do that and more. We need to be very cautious. I voted for things in this three packages that historically, traditionally, I would not be supportive of, because of size, scope, amount of money, deficit, debt, that government is encountering."
Moran said the Senate is on a 24 hour call to return should a fourth bill be needed and that, if it is, he expects that to happen later this month.