Weatherford car dealership owned by Rep. Roger Williams gets coronavirus relief loan
A Weatherford car dealership owned by U.S. Rep. Roger Williams is among the small businesses that received loans from the federal paycheck protection program.
The program was created by Congress to help small businesses keep employees working during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Roger Williams Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Weatherford received one of the program’s loans, the Dallas Morning News reported.
“Like millions of small businesses across America, our family owned business was not immune to the economic damage caused by the government’s shelter-in-place orders and the impacts of COVID-19,” according to a statement by the dealership. “Our first priority has always been our employees and this will never change.
“Fortunately, like countless other American small businesses, we applied through our local bank and have been able to keep over 100 employees on payroll and prevent their families from experiencing further hardships during this unprecedented pandemic,” the statement continued. “We are grateful for the opportunity to continue serving our community and look forward to rebuilding together.”
Williams, a Republican whose district stretches from the edges of Tarrant County through Austin, has represented the 25th Congressional District since 2013.
Lawmakers aren’t barred from getting the loans, which are forgiven if the money is used for payroll.
Even so, some voters might see this as a conflict of interest, said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston.
“There will unquestionably be a massive amount of push back from Republicans on economic spending, so Republican candidates who received aid might be forced to defend their positions against an agitated base,” he said.
The first round of nearly $350 billion in funding ran out in days. Congress recently agreed to put more than $300 billion into the program to help more businesses.
“If federal help becomes a haves versus have nots, politicians who took federal assistance might look hypocritical,” Rottinghaus said.
Williams’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Julie Oliver, the Democrat challenging Williams in November, released a statement.
“Roger Williams sits on the Financial Services Committee, where he has looked out for big banks and big money for the last 7 years,” she said. “Our political system is corrupt.
“We aren’t surprised when we learn that Members of Congress and mega-donors abuse their positions of public trust and power to move to the front of the line, while mom and pop businesses who are hurting in Texas got shut out of the stimulus program within weeks. We need to end the corruption, get big money out of Congress, elect those who know what it means to work for a living and who will be accountable to those she serves.”
This story was originally published May 4, 2020 at 4:02 PM.
