$1.9 trillion covid plan under fire
Republicans oppose Democrats’ wish list
Posted 2/23/21
Congressional Democrats plan to spend $1.9 trillion more in covid relief.
But Congressman Joe Wilson of Springdale and other SC Congress members say less than $900 billion of the …
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$1.9 trillion covid plan under fire
Republicans oppose Democrats’ wish list
Congressman Joe Wilson calls it embarrassing legislation put forth by Democrats for frivolous big city projects
Congressman Joe Wilson calls it embarrassing legislation put forth by Democrats
Posted
Congressional Democrats plan to spend $1.9 trillion more in covid relief.
But Congressman Joe Wilson of Springdale and other SC Congress members say less than $900 billion of the bill will go to covid relief.
They call the other $1 trillion a Democrat wish list.
Only SC Democrat Jim Clyburn is expected to vote for the spending plan.
“This embarrassing legislation put forth by Democrats would use taxpayer dollars for frivolous big city projects and keep our schools closed as students continue to suffer,” Wilson told the Chronicle.
“We must have a more targeted approach when it comes to providing relief, and working American families should come 1st as we recover from the pandemic.”
A Wall Street Journal analysis of the bill shows:
• $75 billion for vaccinations, treatments, testing and medical supplies.
• $19 billion for public health, mainly state health departments and centers.
• $6 billion to the Indian Health Service and $4 billion for mental health.
• $7.2 billion more for the Paycheck Protection Program for businesses and workers hit by lockdowns.
• $15 billion for economic injury disaster loans.
• $26 billion for restaurants and bars.
• $15 billion in payroll support for airlines.
Those who apply must prove economic harm and in some cases repay loans.
• $413 billion to households at $1,400 per man, woman and dependent.
The Congressional Budget Office says the bill’s:
• Unemployment pay will raise deficits by $246 billion.
• $400 a week “enhanced” unemployment benefits through August “could increase the unemployment rate and decrease labor force participation.”
What else covid plan would do
Congress plans to spend $1 trillion on projects other than covid relief.
Here’s what‘s planned:
• $15 an hour minimum wage,which the Congressional Budget Office estimates will cost 1.4 million jobs.
• Increase the child tax credit to $3,000 from $2,000 ($99 billion revenue loss) and temporarily expand the Earned Income Tax Credit to childless adults ($25 billion loss).
• End the cap on the rebate drug makers pay Medicaid for outpatient drugs.
• $350 billion for state and local governments even as state revenues have recovered. Democrats changed the formula to give most of the dollars to blue states.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s New York state (8.2% unemployment in December) and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s California (9%) will be rewarded for business lockdowns.
• $86 billion to rescue 185 union pension plans. These have enormous liabilities yet the bailout comes with no real reform.
• $129 billion for elementary and secondary public schools even if they don’t reopen their classrooms.
• $40 billion for colleges and universities.
Congress already provides $113 billion for schools and expects 95% of this new money will be spent from 2022 through 2028.
• $35 billion in subsidies to defray ObamaCare premiums. This lowers the maximum amount participants are expected to pay from 10% to 8.5%.
• $15 billion for a 5% increase in the federal Medicaid match to states that expand eligibility to lower-income adults.
• $39 billion for child care, $30 billion for public transit and $19 billion in rental assistance.
• $10 billion in mortgage help, $4.5 billion for low income home energy aid and $3.5 billion for food stamps.
• $1 billion for Head Start, $1.5 billion for Amtrak and $50 billion for Emergency Management.
• $4 billion to pay off loans of disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
• Almost $1 billion in world food assistance.
• $1.5 million for Sen. Chuck Schumer’s Seaway International Bridge that connects to Canada.
• $500 million for grants to the arts, humanities, libraries, museums, and Native American language preservation.
We want your opinion. To comment, please email JerryBellune@yahoo.com
Keywords
congress, Joe, Wilson, Jim, Clyburn, chuck, Schumer
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