We’re beyond frustrated with the inaction and posturing in Washington over a new coronavirus relief package while Americans continue to suffer from one of the deepest economic disruptions in history.
Congress and the White House have fiddled for so long, it is now just weeks before the November elections. Leaders of both parties see a relief bill only as a path to political advantage.
Meanwhile, millions of Americans are still unemployed. Families are going hungry. School districts are scraping for resources to reopen. Local governments are slashing budgets and staff. The country still doesn’t have enough testing, contact tracing and personal protective equipment should the virus surge in the winter months.
People can’t wait until after Election Day for a lifeline. Congress and the president need to make a deal now.
The House passed a $3.3 trillion relief bill in May, with another round of direct payments to Americans, unemployment money, small business aid, school aid, rental assistance and nearly $1 trillion in aid to state and local governments. Republicans voted against it, saying it was larded with non-coronavirus items. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has since said she’d consider reducing the size of the package to $2.2 trillion.
The Senate never even took up the House bill. In July, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell could not rally support for a $1 trillion bill from Republicans who opposed spending that much. He put forth a “skinny” $300 billion bill that aided businesses and schools but had no direct payments, no state and local aid and no rental assistance. It wasn’t nearly enough. Democrats (plus one Republican) voted it down.
Hoping to break the stalemate, a bipartisan group of centrists last week put out a $1.5 trillion relief package that splits the difference. The “framework” from the Problem Solvers Caucus proposes aid to small businesses, the unemployed, schools, individuals and $500 million for state and local governments.
The details are too few to score it as legislation. But it’s a serious proposal and a good start.
Many in the Problem Solvers Caucus are in tough re-election fights. They know they can’t come home empty-handed.
The leaders of both parties also are feeling the heat.
Under pressure from her own caucus, Pelosi said last week the House will stay in session until a coronavirus deal is reached. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump called on Republicans to “go for much higher numbers” and authorize another round of stimulus payments for Americans.
No amount of wishful thinking will make the coronavirus go away. It’s with us for the long haul. So are its economic effects.
Americans are suffering. They need help now. Do your job, Congress.
— Advance Media, New York
