Perdue, Loeffler to advise Trump on post-pandemic economy

Both of Georgia’s U.S. senators announced that will serve on a bipartisan advisory board, helping draft strategies to revitalize the economy after the COVID-19 outbreak.

U.S. Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler are among at nearly 100 lawmakers who were named to President Donald Trump’s Congressional Economic Task Force. The announcement came on the same day that Trump participated in private conference calls with the members of the U.S. House and Senate.

“Even while we are still fighting this virus, we need to begin thinking about how to reopen our economy,” Perdue said in a news release. “Going forward, our objective should be to find a balance between keeping people healthy while protecting jobs and the economy long-term.”

Both Perdue and Loeffler said they will lend their business experience to their work on the task force. Perdue is a former executive at Reebok and Dollar General. Loeffler once led a subsidiary of Intercontinental Exchange, a company that also owns the New York Stock Exchange and is led by her husband.

“Armed with information, testing and clear guidance, we will be able to take decisive action, collaborate with the public and private sectors, and reignite our economy while keeping families safe,” she said in a release announcing her participation.

A political opponent quickly panned Loeffler’s inclusion on the task force, alluding to criticism she faced about her stock trading during the pandemic.

"This is like putting a shark on the task force to reopen the beaches on Amity Island," Ed Tarver wrote on Twitter.

Tarver is running against Loeffler and has called for her resignation.

Perdue's stock trading in recent weeks has also drawn attention, although to a lesser extent as Loeffler. One of his challengers, Jon Ossoff, said Perdue's inclusion in the task force could allow the senator to obtain insider information that he passes along to financial advisers.

Read more: Kelly Loeffler says she will stop trading stocks in individual companies

Read more: Perdue, Warnock lead Georgia field in fundraising in Senate races