There is no denying the severe toll COVID-19 has had on the U.S economy. Small businesses have been devastated and many people have been left unemployed. Rates of homelessness grew rapidly and many Americans faced evictions. The American people clearly need help from their government.
Unfortunately, the response to these pleas have largely been inadequate, with the clearest example of this being the stimulus checks that Congress have now spent months in turmoil over.
Things started off fairly smoothly with the first stimulus package. As part of the CARES Act passed in March, $1,200 were given to eligible American adults with $500 for children below the age of 17. However, when it came time for Congress to deliver on the promised second round of stimulus checks, they struggled to deliver what the American people needed. The idea of $2,000 dollar checks for each American adult was raised, but quickly became muddled.
The coronavirus relief package currently proposed by the government pledges checks of only $600 for each American, as well as only $100 more than what was provided for minors in the last round of stimulus checks. Several noteworthy politicians have objected to this amount, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Senator Bernie Sanders and even President Donald Trump.
The coronavirus relief package currently proposed by the government pledges checks of only $600 for each American, as well as only $100 more than what was provided for minors in the last round of stimulus checks.
Sanders, in fact, threatened to resist a defense funding bill unless a vote was allowed on $2,000 checks. Mitch McConnell, House Majority Leader, denied that vote and limited debate over the bill. When it was enacted by the President, it was overturned with a strong majority. McConnell has expressed doubt at the possibility of future $2,000 checks in the future as well.
What worsens matters are the complications with eligible Americans receiving their checks at all. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has stated that many people won’t receive their stimulus check until their 2020 taxes have been filed. Checks also seem to be delayed for those who used online tax management services. Young adults wrongfully being claimed as dependents and misdirected checks continue to remain a consistent problem as well.
Congress made the decision to combine the stimulus package with the new $1.4 trillion government funding bill. The contrast between the efforts for economic relief afforded to Americans as opposed to other causes is jarring. What deepens the comparison is the billions of dollars pledged to other countries in foreign aid, such as $10 million headed to Pakistan for gender studies educational programs and $500 million dollars pledged to Israel, ironically including provisions for a border wall, something debated in the early days of Trump’s presidency as unnecessary spending when applicable to the proposed southern border wall in America.
Also tacked onto the bill are a series of seemingly unrelated laws, such as illegal streaming now becoming a felony and provisions put in place for the Dalai Lama’s eventual reincarnation. The massive bill, standing at 5,593 pages, was given to members of congress only a few hours before voting on it commenced, according to Representative Cortez.
The partisan bickering and policy pushing comes at a time where it can not be afforded, in a literal and metaphorical sense, by many Americans.
Congressional debates over government spending have become commonplace and led to several government shutdowns in recent years. Each of these shutdowns temporarily damage the government’s integrity and place government employees at economic risk. The U.S. yet again almost faced one this year in regards to the government spending bill, something that would have been evidently detrimental in the midst of ongoing health and economic crises.
The partisan bickering and policy pushing comes at a time where it can not be afforded, in a literal and metaphorical sense, by many Americans.
Although COVID-19 restrictions have eased somewhat, many Americans are still in economic trouble and the lack of help from Congress represents a clear disconnect between the American people and their government representatives.
Photo courtesy of WGN-TV
