Fogdog
Well-Known Member
This thread must start with the Covid relief bill:
Biden's Covid stimulus plan: It costs $1.9tn but what's in it?
The US is poised to pass its third major spending package of the pandemic - a $1.9tn (£1.4tn) plan that President Joe Biden has championed as a way to help struggling Americans.
Leaders of his Democratic Party, which has a slim majority in Congress, are planning to pass the so-called American Rescue Plan by mid-March. The Senate approved it on Saturday, with the lower House of Representatives expected to endorse it next week.
It passed 51:50 in a purely partisan vote in the Senate. What is in it you say?
Direct payments
The plan calls on the government to send out $1,400 per person, with the payments quickly phasing out for those with higher incomes - at $75,000 for a single person and couples making more than $150,000.
Additional jobless assistance
The bill provides money to extend jobless benefits until September. That's a critical reprieve for the more than four million long-term unemployed, whose eligibility for benefits is currently due to expire in mid-March.
The plan tops up weekly jobless payments by $300 - the same amount as Congress approved in December's aid package.
Support for parents
Democrats intend to give parents of children under the age of 18 a year of monthly benefits worth $250-$300, depending on age.
The measure works by temporarily increasing the worth of America's existing child tax credit from $2,000 annually to as much as $3,600, and making the benefits available in advance.
Money for Covid-19 tests and vaccines
Mr Biden has called for devoting $50bn to improve testing centres and another $20bn to develop a national vaccination campaign, including setting up community centres and hiring new workers to administer the shots.
"We cannot rescue our economy without first containing the virus," Democrats said as they advanced the plans.
School reopening funds
The bill sends $170bn to schools and universities to help them take steps to reopen, like buying masks and cleaning supplies, upgrading ventilation systems and creating smaller class sizes.
Mr Biden has made reopening a top priority, responding to studies that show students with remote schooling falling behind. It's also seen as a factor preventing parents from returning to work.
Business support
The bill includes grants for small businesses as well as more targeted funds: $25bn for restaurants and bars; $15bn for airlines and another $8bn for airports; $30bn for transit; $1.5bn for Amtrak and $3bn for aerospace manufacturing.
Funds for local governments
Unlike prior stimulus packages, this one provides $350bn for local governments, many of which are facing higher expenses and lower revenues due to the economic downturn.
Paid leave and health insurance help
The plan reinstates the requirement - which expired at the end of 2020 - that employers offer paid sick leave to staff who contract Covid-19, are exposed to the virus and must quarantine; or are caring for sick family members.
It also aims to make it easier for more people to buy health insurance independently.
Leadership. Pure and simple. Biden and Democrats came into office promising to help people recover from the effects of this epidemic and that's exactly what they are doing with this bill.
"It's too much" is the Republican refrain. As if their trickle down solutions ever worked. As if this tactic by them in the early part of the last decade held up.
"It's too much", when by Republican's own words, a civil war is brewing and an attempt to take over the government did not just happen. Biden's administration knows that doing too little will waste resources and time. Not only will this package rescue millions from dropping into poverty but it may even rescue our constitutional democratic republic at the same time.
"It's too much" when we've seen piggish Republican leaders and corporations at the trough, running up the deficit and enriching themselves with stock buy-backs instead of making investments that would build up our economy.
Biden's Covid stimulus plan: It costs $1.9tn but what's in it?
The US is poised to pass its third major spending package of the pandemic - a $1.9tn (£1.4tn) plan that President Joe Biden has championed as a way to help struggling Americans.
Leaders of his Democratic Party, which has a slim majority in Congress, are planning to pass the so-called American Rescue Plan by mid-March. The Senate approved it on Saturday, with the lower House of Representatives expected to endorse it next week.
It passed 51:50 in a purely partisan vote in the Senate. What is in it you say?
Direct payments
The plan calls on the government to send out $1,400 per person, with the payments quickly phasing out for those with higher incomes - at $75,000 for a single person and couples making more than $150,000.
Additional jobless assistance
The bill provides money to extend jobless benefits until September. That's a critical reprieve for the more than four million long-term unemployed, whose eligibility for benefits is currently due to expire in mid-March.
The plan tops up weekly jobless payments by $300 - the same amount as Congress approved in December's aid package.
Support for parents
Democrats intend to give parents of children under the age of 18 a year of monthly benefits worth $250-$300, depending on age.
The measure works by temporarily increasing the worth of America's existing child tax credit from $2,000 annually to as much as $3,600, and making the benefits available in advance.
Money for Covid-19 tests and vaccines
Mr Biden has called for devoting $50bn to improve testing centres and another $20bn to develop a national vaccination campaign, including setting up community centres and hiring new workers to administer the shots.
"We cannot rescue our economy without first containing the virus," Democrats said as they advanced the plans.
School reopening funds
The bill sends $170bn to schools and universities to help them take steps to reopen, like buying masks and cleaning supplies, upgrading ventilation systems and creating smaller class sizes.
Mr Biden has made reopening a top priority, responding to studies that show students with remote schooling falling behind. It's also seen as a factor preventing parents from returning to work.
Business support
The bill includes grants for small businesses as well as more targeted funds: $25bn for restaurants and bars; $15bn for airlines and another $8bn for airports; $30bn for transit; $1.5bn for Amtrak and $3bn for aerospace manufacturing.
Funds for local governments
Unlike prior stimulus packages, this one provides $350bn for local governments, many of which are facing higher expenses and lower revenues due to the economic downturn.
Paid leave and health insurance help
The plan reinstates the requirement - which expired at the end of 2020 - that employers offer paid sick leave to staff who contract Covid-19, are exposed to the virus and must quarantine; or are caring for sick family members.
It also aims to make it easier for more people to buy health insurance independently.
Leadership. Pure and simple. Biden and Democrats came into office promising to help people recover from the effects of this epidemic and that's exactly what they are doing with this bill.
"It's too much" is the Republican refrain. As if their trickle down solutions ever worked. As if this tactic by them in the early part of the last decade held up.
"It's too much", when by Republican's own words, a civil war is brewing and an attempt to take over the government did not just happen. Biden's administration knows that doing too little will waste resources and time. Not only will this package rescue millions from dropping into poverty but it may even rescue our constitutional democratic republic at the same time.
"It's too much" when we've seen piggish Republican leaders and corporations at the trough, running up the deficit and enriching themselves with stock buy-backs instead of making investments that would build up our economy.
