The two trillion and two hundred billion dollar stimulus package that overwhelmingly passed Congress last week with near-unanimous bipartisan support is far from a perfect bill.
It was a necessary compromise Democrats had to forge with corporatist Republicans to get vital assistance to the people, small business, the nation’s medical infrastructure, and soon to be cash strapped state and local governments.
While the legislation provides much-needed relief to individuals through higher unemployment insurance allotments (including contract and gig workers) and direct cash payments, businesses who can use the funds to maintain their payrolls, hospitals and medical professionals that need to provide vital medical care, and aid to states and local governments, it also is a Trojan Horse of tax cuts for individuals like those who want to write off real estate expenses or who own hotels and restaurants. There is also a fear among Progressive groups that the Administration will waive or simply obstruct any accountability by the Inspector General retained to oversee the $500 billion loan program to businesses. Governors in states like New York’s Andrew Cuomo publicly vented that the state aid, given their public health emergency, was too little and that he needs more federal assistance.
In Arizona, all of the Grand Canyon State’s Representatives and Senators, with the exception of Andy Biggs (who is zero for three on these Coronavirus Measures,) either voiced support or voted for the large financial package.
The Arizona Democratic Congressional Candidates looking to defeat Republican incumbents Debbie Lesko, Andy Biggs, and Paul Gosar, offered their views on the over two trillion dollar package.
Congressional District Four Candidate Delina DiSanto
“The two trillion dollar economic Senate bill is over 1000 pages and has some economic help for our nation. But we must be sure that the house bill does more and recognizes that the people of our nation are more important, looking at a temporary hold on mortgage and credit card payments and interest accumulation and corporations are not taking advantage of the stimulus for their own agenda (as they did in the 2009 stimulus package, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009).”
“The Senate bill gives a cash infusion for hospitals, expand unemployment benefits, provide about $367 billion to small businesses, and assist state and local governments. The bill also provides one-time direct payments to Americans of $1,200 per adult making up to $75,000 a year, and $2,400 to a married couple.”
“ The federal government has to be our backstop. Americans pay taxes for our government to function. Americans, now during this crisis, need to feel our bills are going to get paid and our obligations are going to be met, not just corporations. We need this money now. The beginning of the month is coming up and people are worried. I have been on the phone talking with voters all around Congressional District 4 and so many have expressed their fear of what will happen to them. Many have lost their jobs already. The legislators in Congress will always get their paycheck no matter what. Millions are now not getting a check. Legislators have to start thinking of them and not their special interests. We need empathy and strong leaders, and we need them now.”
“We will get through this, but it has to be all of us, including our government’s promise to protect all citizens across this nation. “
Congressional District Five Candidate Joan Greene
“He did it again. “
“Rep. Andy Biggs continues to work against our families. He is an irresponsible ideologue even during a pandemic crisis.”
“The House passed the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill this morning, but Biggs told KTAR news he would vote against it.”
“The bill includes cash into the hands of our families, more funding for our hospitals during this crisis and increased food assistance. It supports our small businesses so they can keep employees employed. It offers protections for gig workers and against foreclosures and evictions. It will also increase unemployment benefits, something Biggs said went too far.”
“More than three million Americans lost their jobs in just the last week. What does Biggs propose we do? Nothing?”
“Remember, he also voted No on H.R. 6201: Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which included coronavirus testing for free, paid sick leave and some funding for those without insurance.”
“It is clearly time to Vote No on Biggs. “
Earlier, Ms. Greene commented:
“Multi-millionaires with a $200K plus job they are secure in, vote to deprive their neighbors of health and food while they give billions to corporations who don’t pay taxes. Enough of the ‘trickle-down’ because we know that doesn’t work and it doesn’t happen. Funding to protect our families should start with the people”.
Congressional District Eight Candidate Michael Muscato
“This “Stimulus” bill called the Cares Act should really be called “TARP 2.0”. This is one of the worst pieces of legislation I’ve ever seen. This isn’t a handout to the American people; it’s a payout on our dimes, our futures, and our misery. “
“On Thursday, the Department of Labor reported the highest number of unemployment claims on record for the week of March 14-21, 2020 with more than 3.3 million Americans dropped from the workforce in the middle of the worst pandemic in modern history.”
“Those numbers do not even include:
(1) Layoffs we heard about just this past week;
(2) Contractors and gig workers who lost work
Previous Record: 700,000 in 1982.”
“In the midst of an economic collapse like this country has never seen, Congress gave Steve Mnuchin, “the King of Foreclosures,” a $4 trillion slush fund to hand out to his buddies. What did the American people get for it – a one-time $1,200 check? Small Businesses have to take out loans with interest while corporations and speculators receive non-recourse loans? A last-minute change to the bill now allows major businesses with under 500 employees to eat into the funding allotted for true small business – Gee I wonder how that will go? American workers, businesses, and families are being forced into bankruptcy and unemployment with no real plan or end in sight while our leadership hands out money to businesses and industries raking in record profits after using tax breaks promised to increase wages (never did) to rake in more with stock buybacks instead.”
“I’ve owned and operated a small business here in CD8 for the past seven years. My doors have now been shut for two weeks without any sense of when they may re-open. Each day that goes by without knowing that is one day closer to it being more likely they never will re-open again. The government mandate doesn’t stop the bills from being due. I’m one of 30 million small business owners who may not make it through mid-April: why? Because our leadership has been indecisive, inconsistent, and incapable. If you look at my opponent’s social media she hails the current administration and claims we are and have been more than prepared to handle this situation. Does anyone buy this BS?”
(I can’t find this tweet online anymore, perhaps she deleted it? We certainly hit her hard on it)
“The one saving grace of this bill, thanks to Democrats, was that unemployment benefits would see a weekly boost of $600. Here in Arizona, the regular max unemployment is $240, so this boost for a four-month period will help keep those who qualify afloat. “
“This situation has clearly shown how disconnected our leaders are from the everyday person. Notice while all of our representatives bicker over whether or not our lives are worth $1200, while they each continue to collect roughly $200,000 plus of our hard-earned money and receive all the health and liquidity benefits none of us can? This is criminal.”
“I got into this fight to represent everyone in my hometown, regardless of a political party, and now more than ever that is exactly what we need. November cannot come soon enough.”
Congressional District Eight Candidate Bob Musselwhite
“This two trillion dollars is a down payment on the real costs of inept, short-sighted national government. I am very pleased to see that Democrats have stuck to their principles and demanded help for the working man and woman of this country and also for small businesses in this package.”
In the coming weeks and months, more will be needed to help the people, medical infrastructure, industry, and local and state governments overcome the costs of the Coronavirus Public Health Emergency.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on CNN’s State of the Union this morning, said the recent legislation was a “down payment” and that more funding bills would be necessary.
Hopefully, the amazing bipartisan unity that has materialized in the first three Coronavirus bills will continue as the need arises in the next two to three months.
Hopefully, these future bills will not have to purchase aid to the people with concessions to corporate greed like the two trillion dollar measure of last week.
Remember the theme the Arizona Democratic Candidates said in their comments: PUT PEOPLE FIRST.
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