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Fact Check: Economic focus in KS 3rd District race

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Posted at 8:41 AM, Oct 02, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-02 09:41:26-04

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Economic relief during the coronavirus pandemic is one issue candidates are focusing on in the Kansas 3rd Congressional District race.

Democrat incumbent Sharice Davids is running for re-election and being challenged by Republican Amanda Adkins.

A television campaign ad by Rep. Davids touts her work helping small businesses and workers during the pandemic. One claim in her ad said that the congresswoman is “pushing for paid sick leave and small business tax credits.”

Truth Be Told looked into Davids’ voting history in Congress and found that in March, she voted for a bill called “Families First Coronavirus Response Act.”

The bill is sponsored by a New York Democrat and received bipartisan support. The legislation was signed by President Donald Trump.

According to the IRS, the legislation "provides small and midsize employers refundable tax credits that reimburse them, dollar-for-dollar, for the cost of providing paid sick and family leave wages to their employees for leave related to COVID-19."

Many local business owners are focused on the economic recovery aspect of the election as well.

"Our business is probably down about 40 percent, so we're hanging in there but it would be nice to get back to full time again," Rick Thurber said.

He owns KC Bowl, a small business weathering the pandemic.

Since reopening, Thurber said several measures have been taken to guarantee people are safe - such as temperature checks, mask requirements and enforcement of social distancing inside the establishment.

Thurber said while financial help from the government is gone, loyal customers are helping his business roll on.

"We're all one big happy bowling family. I can't say that enough. we've got some good people," he said.

41 Action News is committed to providing comprehensive information on the 2020 primary and general elections with an emphasis on several key issues — the economy, the COVID-19 pandemic and race relations. Count on us to provide news and information to help you make an informed choice at the polls.