Optimism Grows For COVID-Relief Bill
Splitting the stimulus package into parts has raised the odds that Congress will pass this week some form of economic relief for states, people and businesses affected by the coronavirus.
The Hill:
Bipartisan Group Unveils Two-Part $908 Billion Coronavirus Package
A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Monday unveiled its $908 billion coronavirus relief package as Congress faces a time crunch to pass more aid. The proposal is split into two parts: One $748 billion piece includes another round of Paycheck Protection Program assistance for small businesses, an unemployment benefit, and more money for schools, vaccine distribution and other widely agreed-upon items. The second $160 billion piece ties together the two most controversial elements of the coronavirus negotiations: more money for state and local governments and protections for businesses from coronavirus-related lawsuits. (Carney, 12/14)
The Washington Post:
Momentum Grows On Capitol Hill For Economic Relief Package As Bipartisan Group Releases Two Bills
A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Monday released two bills they said would provide the nation with emergency economic relief as senior congressional officials sounded more hopeful about the odds of approving new relief than they have in weeks. The bipartisan group unveiled one $748 billion package that includes new unemployment benefits, small business aid and other programs that received broad bipartisan support. The second bill includes the two provisions most divisive among lawmakers — liability protections for firms and roughly $160 billion in aid for state and local governments — with the expectation that both could be excluded from a final deal to secure passage of the most popular provisions. This second bill could end up falling out of the final deal if lawmakers don’t rally around it amid broad opposition among Democrats to approving the liability shield. (Stein, DeBonis and Min Kim, 12/14)
In related news on COVID's economic toll —
The New York Times:
What Happens To The Unemployed When The Checks Run Out
When jobless workers get their last unemployment check, the effect on spending is sharp and swift. Unemployed workers’ spending on food, clothes and other so-called nondurable goods immediately drops 12 percent, about twice as much as when they lost their job and went on unemployment insurance, University of Chicago researchers have found. Spending at drugstores falls 15 percent. Co-payments for visits to the doctor fall 14 percent. Spending on groceries falls 16 percent, or $46.30 a month, on average. Millions of Americans are less than two weeks from cutbacks like those. (Porter, 12/14)
NPR:
For Hungry Americans Across The Country, Food Insecurity Crisis Deepens
Nine months into the pandemic, and lines outside food pantries are still a common sight around the country: families waiting in row after row of cars, snaking as far as the eye can see. Last year, more than 35 million people experienced food insecurity. But because of the pandemic, that number could be as high as 50 million for this year, according to the hunger relief organization Feeding America. And with multiple federal aid programs set to run out soon, many pantries fear they will run out of food, too. (Mehta and Chang, 12/14)
Also —
The Washington Post:
Rep.-Elect Bob Good Calls The Pandemic ‘Phony.’ Covid-19 Has Killed More Than 300 In His District.
Rep.-elect Bob Good took the stage at Freedom Plaza on Saturday afternoon and looked out at a sea of masklessness. Thousands had come to march for President Trump — some carrying signs declaring the novel coronavirus a hoax.They were just the kind of group, Good told the crowd, who “gets that this is a phony pandemic.” “It’s a serious virus, but it’s a virus. It’s not a pandemic,” said Good (R), who will become Virginia’s newest congressman in the 5th Congressional District on Jan. 3. “It’s great to see your faces. You get it. You stand up against tyranny.” (Flynn and Vozella, 12/14)
The Washington Post:
Maine Senator Suggests Keeping People Home During The Holidays With Free Movies And TV Shows
Wouldn’t more people stay safely ensconced in their own homes over the holidays if they had access to free Hulu, HBO Max and Netflix? That’s the argument being put forward by Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), who on Monday urged six major streaming services to consider making shows and movies available to nonsubscribers as a “public service.” (Noori Farzan, 12/15)
