Fight over next coronavirus aid bill kicks into high gear in U.S. Congress

[turbinetree]

Source: Reuters

POLITICS APRIL 24, 2020 / 6:15 AM / UPDATED 3 MINUTES AGO

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After passing $3 trillion of coronavirus relief in a rare run of bipartisanship, Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Congress girded for a new battle over federal assistance to states and local governments grappling with the deadly outbreak.

Spurred on by governors and local officials, Democrats have put out the word they want to provide a sizable rescue package as part of a broader bill - one that could total at least $2 trillion in coming weeks.

Some Republicans have pushed back hard against the idea as unreasonably expensive and unwarranted.

House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned on Friday, “There will not be a bill without state and local” aid.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-congress/fight-over-next-coronavirus-aid-bill-kicks-into-high-gear-in-u-s-congress-idUSKCN2261C8?il=0

[jimfields33]

1. Holy cow. This is going to easily cost 10 trillion

We’ll be at 32 trillion before the end of the year. What does that mean for the future. That’s unclear.

[PSPS]

4. Unprecedented circumstances demand unprecedented actions

Your $32 trillion is silly, but it could be $5 trillion. Who cares? There are ways to recoup that over time especially if we start actually taxing the rich and do something about the trillions hidden offshore. "The future" is really what is at stake here. It's isn't "unclear" at all.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. Greed Over People believe USA stands for Untied. . . . nt

[Backseat Driver]

3. Allergic to acronyms - spit it out, please.

Untied Syndicates of America? Something else?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. Untied instead of United States of America. Widening divisions in a time of crisis

Driving wedges between states.

Not working together. Working against political opponents in life-threatening ways and ways that increase people's risk of losing houses and other destruction.

Failing to provide support equally among all citizens regardless of race, gender identification or domicile.

[Hortensis]

6. :) And yesterday's $484B was an interim step to the BIG stimulus

of state and local aid we're introducing. As for cost, don't forget that it IS stimulus to fuel the economy and will be spent and respent many times and places over.

Democratic stimulus to localities, not pretend trickle-down via kleptocrats, who sit on it and buy back stock in their companies.

More generally, Pelosi said she isn’t concerned that emergency funding might not get to states, localities and other areas where it should.

“We will have a bright light shining on this,” Pelosi said, citing the oversight commission that was part of the earlier $2 trillion measure. In addition, the House on Thursday is set to vote on creating a special committee to oversee how coronavirus funds are used.