House and Senate Democrats introduce legeslation to increase federal min. wage to $15/hr by 2025

Tweety, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2021

I think at this point the package is about the embattled economy not necessarily all about covid relief in every detail. But I do think the bulk of it is covid related.

I got a stimulus check and I had the highest income of my life in 2020 and what does that have to do with Covid? Not sure but I spent it to do my part. ?

What's interesting is that last year congress wanted an 800 billion package and Trump tossed it back saying it wasn't enough.

I am concerned about the long term implications of the 6 trillion we have spent on covid. But it's not all wasted but it is staggering.

toomuchbaloney · Feb 28, 2021

The disaster relief needs to be big because Trump and his devotees guaranteed us a big disaster with their lies and malfeasance during a pandemic. Surely everyone understood from the start that the party of austerity would fight extending relief to the masses. We have years of examples of republicans loving tax giveaways to the wealthiest while they obstruct relief for the working class and mom and pop businesses, so it shouldn't have been any surprise...just like it's no surprise that they are suddenly very concerned about the debt and deficits that they expanded.

Beerman, BSN · Feb 28, 2021

1 hour ago, Tweety said:

I think at this point the package is about the embattled economy not necessarily all about covid relief in every detail. But I do think the bulk of it is covid related.

As I understand it, that is factually incorrect.

"In reviewing the bill in its full scope, less than 20 percent of the total spending addresses core COVID challenges that are immediately pressing: funding for vaccine distribution and testing, and emergency federal unemployment programs. I support these portions of the bill wholeheartedly and believe we should do more for the people hardest hit by the pandemic by continuing to extend unemployment programs until economic indicators show they are no longer necessary," the Maine Democratic lawmaker said."

https://www.newsweek.com/house-democrat-jared-golden-defends-voting-against-wasteful-19t-relief-bill-1572585

The ""Pelosi Subway " gets $140 million, even after a Republican tried to get that money redirected to mental health services for children.

"Calling it the ‘Pelosi payoff,’ Republicans offered a motion to recommit the bill back to the Budget Committee to consider an amendment from freshman Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa,” Roll Call reported. “The amendment would shift the $140 million for the San Francisco transit project to mental health services for children who can’t attend in-person school.”

https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrats-reject-gop-stimulus-amendment-to-move-100m-from-silicon-valley-subway-to-childrens-mental-health

1 hour ago, toomuchbaloney said:

The disaster relief needs to be big because Trump and his devotees guaranteed us a big disaster with their lies and malfeasance during a pandemic. Surely everyone understood from the start that the party of austerity would fight extending relief to the masses. We have years of examples of republicans loving tax giveaways to the wealthiest while they obstruct relief for the working class and mom and pop businesses, so it shouldn't have been any surprise...just like it's no surprise that they are suddenly very concerned about the debt and deficits that they expanded.

Deflection

toomuchbaloney · Feb 28, 2021

24 minutes ago, Beerman said:

As I understand it, that is factually incorrect.

"In reviewing the bill in its full scope, less than 20 percent of the total spending addresses core COVID challenges that are immediately pressing: funding for vaccine distribution and testing, and emergency federal unemployment programs. I support these portions of the bill wholeheartedly and believe we should do more for the people hardest hit by the pandemic by continuing to extend unemployment programs until economic indicators show they are no longer necessary," the Maine Democratic lawmaker said."

https://www.newsweek.com/house-democrat-jared-golden-defends-voting-against-wasteful-19t-relief-bill-1572585

The ""Pelosi Subway " gets $140 million, even after a Republican tried to get that money redirected to mental health services for children.

"Calling it the ‘Pelosi payoff,’ Republicans offered a motion to recommit the bill back to the Budget Committee to consider an amendment from freshman Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa,” Roll Call reported. “The amendment would shift the $140 million for the San Francisco transit project to mental health services for children who can’t attend in-person school.”

https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrats-reject-gop-stimulus-amendment-to-move-100m-from-silicon-valley-subway-to-childrens-mental-health

Deflection

It's exactly on topic...in response to your comment.

nursej22, MSN, RN · Feb 28, 2021

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/27/us/politics/assessing-claims-in-the-coronavirus-stimulus-debate.html

Some quotes from the above article, for those of you who don't subscribe:

"A spokeswoman for Mr. McCarthy said that the 9 percent referred to the $160 billion for a national vaccination program, expanded testing and a public health jobs program, as outlined by the Biden administration. In other words, 8.4 percent, or $160 billion of the $1.9 trillion package, is allocated specifically to fighting the coronavirus.

But that is a rather narrow interpretation of pandemic-related funding. The bill also includes other health care spending like subsidizing insurance coverage for laid-off workers, extending paid sick leave and funding for veterans care."

"And like the first two relief bills signed by President Donald J. Trump and an alternate measure proposed this year by 10 Republican lawmakers, much of the Biden plan is devoted to providing financial help to families and businesses harmed by the economic effects of the pandemic. The $1,400 stimulus checks and extension of unemployment benefits are the two biggest single expenditures, according to a breakdown by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget."

"“Pelosi’s subway” refers to a project to extend the Bay Area Rapid Transit system into downtown San Jose — which is an hour south of San Francisco and the district Speaker Nancy Pelosi represents. The project is actually in the district of another Democrat, Representative Zoe Lofgren."

MunoRN, RN · Feb 28, 2021

On 2/25/2021 at 11:06 PM, Beerman said:

Perfect example of Democrats cramming in liberal wishlist items into a bill that it has nothing to do with.

don't let a crisis go to waste, is their motto.

It's a bit silly to suggest that Pork spending is a characteristic specific to Democrats, Republicans added funding for abstinence only education to the first Covid relief bill, among other things.

But I agree, unrelated spending, regardless of which party it comes from, shouldn't be part of these bills. There should be no spending for BART in the bill, Pelosi is free to put forward an infrastructure bill if she so chooses.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2021

2 hours ago, Beerman said:

"In reviewing the bill in its full scope, less than 20 percent of the total spending addresses core COVID challenges that are immediately pressing:

Not to quibble about semantics but that 20% of the bill directly deals with the core COVID challenges that are immediately pressing might be true, but the fallout to the overall economy I think is what this bill attempts to address.

As has been said a good deal of us, especially in the health care profession or retired, aren't affected, so I can agree that the bill shouldn't be this much but more specific to not only the "core COVID changes" but those who are affected by the fallout in the economy. Even though I wouldn't need a check, I'll like others and spend it and stimulate the economy.

I'm reminded that when Obama tried a stimulus package during a devastated economy the Tea Party was born and Republicans fought tooth and nail to protect the deficit. Then through Trump's spending and tax cut the deficit was destroyed and they were silent. Now we're hearing from them again. Pass the popcorn please......

Beerman, BSN · Mar 1, 2021

How nice for federal workers.

"A provision in the “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021,” which passed the House on Saturday, enables a new Treasury Department fund called the “Emergency Federal Employee Leave Fund” to pay federal employees up to $1,400 a week for 15 weeks as paid time off if they have any kids who are not enrolled in full-time, in-classroom instruction as their school. Forbes reported:"

https://www.dailywire.com/news/personal-bailout-for-bureaucrats-democrat-stimulus-pays-big-bucks-to-federal-employees?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=benshapiro

toomuchbaloney · Mar 1, 2021

54 minutes ago, Beerman said:

How nice for federal workers.

"A provision in the “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021,” which passed the House on Saturday, enables a new Treasury Department fund called the “Emergency Federal Employee Leave Fund” to pay federal employees up to $1,400 a week for 15 weeks as paid time off if they have any kids who are not enrolled in full-time, in-classroom instruction as their school. Forbes reported:"

https://www.dailywire.com/news/personal-bailout-for-bureaucrats-democrat-stimulus-pays-big-bucks-to-federal-employees?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=benshapiro

Yeah.

Maybe they'll use those dollars to pay back the SS withholding money that they now owe. You remember that Trump required federal employees and military to participate participate in that deferment of taxes for 4 months, right? Now they'll have some money to pay that back over an extended deadline.

Yes, it makes sense to me that the government should try to care of the needs of their employees during a crisis.