The House of Representatives finally brought to the floor for a vote a coronavirus aid package. Its passage received a vote early on today, Saturday after the President’s emergency declaration. The package includes funding for testing and paid sick leave.
Government program expansion favored over caring for the American people
The vote for passage was 363 to 40. Also piled onto disaster relief is an entirely unnecessary multi-billion dollar expansion of entitlement programs. The expansion is there solely to produce partisan political talking points. It is a really jaded reflex reaction to unilateral Presidential action taken to help those who could be thrown out of work in the weeks to come.
Economists say the outbreak could tip the U.S. economy into recession. President Trump said he supported the package. His support raises the likelihood it will pass the Senate next week. The bill is the product of negotiations between Speaker Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin.
The administration desires tax cuts which the measure does not contain. Pelosi’s push was to expand safety-net spending. This means any resultant economic downturn from the coronavirus is Pelosi induced as is the lack of timeliness in the House response.
Pelosi position, small, partisan and uncaring
Pelosi said at a news conference on Friday evening, “There was no need for that… ” Her comment is in reference to speaking with the president directly. Apparently, the Speaker is incapable of setting aside her personal animus against the president even for the sake of timely resolution of a matter bearing on the safety and well being of the American people. That’s pretty much the definition of small and extremely partisan.
Trump correctly made the accusation the Democrats are “not doing what’s right for the country.” The bill would provide two weeks of paid sick and family leave for those affected by the virus. Businesses would get a tax credit to help cover the expense. Workers would also be able to take up to three months of unpaid leave if they are quarantined or need to take care of sick family members.
The bill would expand safety-net programs. It is an attempt to help people weather economic downturns. The most at risk include home-bound seniors and low-income schoolchildren who risk losing access to free breakfast and lunch if their schools close. It would bolster unemployment aid and the “food stamps” program that helps 34 million low-income people buy groceries. There is a suspension of a restriction, due to kick in on April 1, cutting off food-stamp benefits for not working childless adults.
There’s more to come
Federal support for Medicaid would also increase. This gives states a cushion to fund the low-income health insurance program. Pelosi said the House would begin work next week on another round of legislation… She describes the effort to assist hard-hit industries and the broader economy. Others describe the effort as picking winners and losers in the economy.
House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy said Trump’s proposed payroll tax cut could factor in those negotiations. The two sides struggled to find common ground. There was a quick passage of an $8.3 billion bill to pay for vaccine research and other disease-fighting measures. Following the President’s lead, the House acts to respond to the coronavirus. They were slow but they did get around to passing something… as ineffective and with as much misguidance as it may have.