When the Government realized that the covid-19 issue was going to be worse than was thought, the Senate and House began passing various plans to mitigate the effect on the economy.
Part of the plans that were passed include the $250 billion for small businesses, the $500 billion and counting for large businesses and $1200 for individuals making less than $75000 and double that for couples.
What we have learned was that Republicans wanted money for their corporate donors and they essentially got everything they wanted. Now Democrats only got a tiny piece of what they wanted.
Democrats wanted more money for the ordinary folks, for small businesses, the states, the Post Office, and the hospitals. So far, they have only gotten some money for individuals, and the money for small businesses which was sent for the most part to red states.
For now, it seems Nancy Pelosi has been intimidated by Trump, so she is not including any aid for the US Post Office in any package. I think this is a mistake. Democrats must work and frame their demands as a demand for people that are in the front lines of this pandemic and such people include folks working in the hospitals, the US Post Office, folks working in election offices and various state workers and as such the demand by democrats should include the following.
Aid for Hospitals and other medical facilities and staff.
Aid for the US post office.
Aid for states and local governments.
Aid to help states conduct elections by mail.
A monthly stimulus package of 1200 for all workers and 500 for children and dependents, and this time they need to fix the age requirements and include 17 and 18 year old children. This stimulus money should be ongoing for the duration of the pandemic.
Another 250 billion for small scale businesses to be sent to states using some formula that would ensure that all states benefit more or less equally.
A provision that any business that receives aid from the government should disclose how much it received and how it was used upon request. Any company that does not disclose accurately what was received will be subject to fines and the CEO or CFO may be subject to minimum of one-year jail time in addition to fines.
There is no need for Democrats to negotiate on these plans since Republicans never negotiate in good faith.
They should just go ahead and pass it in the House and that way they can show the American people that it is the Republicans that is preventing Americans from getting the help that is needed in this hard times.
Last but not the least, the next bill should contain a provision that prevents the President or any other name from being written on any future stimulus checks. Anyone that violates this provision which includes government officials signing the check, banks cashing the check would be subject to fines and or jail time.
Now some folks will say Democrats should compromise on some of these items, I believe that there should be no compromise, since essentially all the above plans if passed would actually help the economy and indirectly help Trump and the Republicans in the 2020 election. Thus, if the policy demands are going to end up helping Trump, then Democrats should as well ask for everything that they want.
Nancy should not let herself get intimidated by Trump.
