Thursday, March 26, 2020

Senate Approves Stimulus Package, But Where's The House?


The White House and Senate leadership came to an agreement on a $2 trillion stimulus bill aimed at providing economic relief to workers and businesses hurt by the coronavirus pandemic.

The bill could be passed the Senate yesterday, but it is unclear when the House will take up the legislation, as its members are home in their districts and some have tested positive for the coronavirus or have self-quarantined.

I’ll stop; people are dying, asshats, find a way to take a vote and get this thing done.

And we’re back … _____ is expected to sign the bill into law if it is passed. And here’s what it looks like:
DIRECT CASH PAYMENTS
Individuals making up to $75,000 a year would receive checks for $1,200. Couples making up to $150,000 would receive $2,400, with an additional $500 per child. The payments decrease for those making more than $75,000, with an income cap of $99,000 for individuals or $198,000 for couples.
EXPANDED UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
The bill would increase the maximum state unemployment benefit by $600 per week for up to four months. Unemployment benefits would also be extended to those who typically do not qualify, such as gig economy workers, furloughed employees and freelancers. Under the bill, those nearing the end of their unemployment timetable could have the period extended by 13 weeks.
SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT
Roughly $350 billion would go toward loans for small businesses; companies with fewer than 500 employees could be eligible for up to $10 million in forgivable small-business loans to allow them to keep paying their employees. Those small businesses that maintain payroll would be eligible for assistance for costs such as mortgage interest, rent and utilities.
ASSISTANCE FOR CORPORATIONS
The bill is expected to provide $500 billion in aid for corporations, such as airline companies, that have been hurt by the coronavirus outbreak. Democrats were concerned that the aid would be used as a "slush fund," with little to no oversight on who got how much money, but provisions were added to help allay those concerns, such as … and I love this … the bill would prohibit businesses controlled by the president, vice president, members of Congress and heads of executive departments from receiving these loans.
PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING
The bill would give more than $100 billion in assistance to hospitals, an increase from the Republicans' initial proposal of $15 billion in chump change. Additional funding would also be provided for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, transportation agencies, food stamps, child nutrition and other health care-related programs.
STATE AID
The measure would also provide about $150 billion in stimulus funds for state and local governments to help boost their budgets amid a significant drop-off in tax revenues.
Let’s get this done; people are suffering, afraid, sick and dying. We elect these people to represent us and they’d better start doing it because November is coming and nearly all estimates say we should be up and running, and voting, by then.

8 comments:

  1. Nancy says it will be approved by tomorrow.

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  2. Nancy needs to light a fire. The last thing the Dems need now is to be ripped apart for holding this up, or give Trump more fodder to use against them.

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  3. Nancy gets shit done.
    IMPOTUS is so afraid of her.

    XoXo

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  4. "They" (high ranking GOP) don't understand people before corporations at all. I won't be surprised at all if it drags on for weeks before anything is done.

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  5. Well, it seems they are supposed to make sure a vote is done early today. But, mind you, there is always some numb-nuts republican ready to screw things up. Hoping Pelosi grabs 'em by the short hairs (if they haven't manscaped too much) and gets it done.

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  6. But is this money taxable? That's what I want to know.

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