NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday pushed for a multi-million-dollar campaign to encourage mask wearing across the country
The Democrat was at his East side office in the morning, where he said $250 million was recently freed up due to a failed Trump administration act.
He says Trump officials wanted to use the money to help vaccinate those who perform as Santa Claus in malls, before first responders.
“Gimmie a break,” Sen. Schumer said. “It's so laughed at that the administration withdrew this ridiculous proposal.”
He said the idea of skipping first responders was ludicrous.
“First, with COVID, we shouldn’t have any Santas with kids sitting on their laps or near them. But second, doctors, nursing, first responders – they’re the people who should get the priority vaccines. Not Santas sitting in the mall,” Schumer said.
The senator says the funds would be better spent on education efforts and encouraging Americans to always wear a mask when in public areas.
“The administration (should) reach into their Christmas sacks and do PSAs that everyone should wear a face mask,” he said.
It’s not clear if the Trump administration was planning to vaccinate all mall Santas, but the idea was made public by the Wall Street Journal on Monday.
The paper published a phone call in which an assistant to the Health and Human Services secretary promised a mall Santa Claus early access in exchange for promoting the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine.
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