On Saturday, the House of Representatives met in the dead of night for a rushed vote on a COVID-19 “relief” bill. Though two Democrats voted against the so-called American Rescue Plan Act, the Left was able to leverage its majority to push the bloated and disgraceful bill through.
Democrats Jared Golden of Maine and Kurt Schrader of Oregon joined Republicans in opposing this bill, which includes an underground rail line between Pelosi’s district and Silicon Valley. Republicans attempted to instead use those funds to help children affected by the pandemic, but Democrats needed their special rail line to Pelosi’s backyard. The bill also has funding of $129 billion for K-12 schools — but most of it won’t be spent in 2021 or even 2022. So schools won’t get the help they need until after the pandemic is over.
“95 percent of the funding in this bill isn’t even scheduled to be spent for another year, creating more uncertainty for families,” says Kevin McCarthy. “And in fact, less than 9 percent of the bill will be used to fund public health.”
The bill does accomplish some good, however. Parents will receive a tax credit of $3,600 per child under 6 and $3,000 per child up to 17 years old. Adults making up to $75,000 a year will receive $1,400 checks. All benefits are gradually phased out and disappear at income levels above $100,000 ($150,000 for joint filers). There will also be a $400 unemployment insurance bonus each week through August. There are also some benefits for businesses, like $7.2 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program.
Democrats attempted to shove a $15 minimum wage increase into the bill, but Senate rules won’t allow it. IT also includes a $129 billion handout to the medical industry in the form of COVID testing allocations.
Democrats hope to shove this broken and wasteful bill through the Senate by mid-March. The animals truly have taken over the zoo.
