“You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it's an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.”
---Rahm Emanuel
Today, in a brilliant strategic move, Speaker Pelosi unveiled her own 1100-page Stimulus Package. Because it’s an election year, Nancy has the republicans over a barrel, and she knows it. This is one crisis that she is not letting go to waste.
In addition to addressing the coronavirus, the bill also includes provisions for promoting ethnic, racial, and gender diversity and compliance with the Environmental Protection Act. Further provisions include $15 minimum wage, industry loans contingent on permanent paid leave, stricter industry emissions standards, and an executive compensation cap. The bill even sets aside funds to purchase high-polluting aircraft from air carriers in exchange for commitments from such air carriers to purchase fuel-efficient aircraft.
The republicans are screwed either way. If the Senate doesn’t pass it, more coronavirus deaths will result while the republicans argue and obstruct, which in turn means they will lose the majority in November. If they do pass it, Nancy and the Democrats will get the credit and the republicans will still lose the Senate. Another crisis not gone to waste. And eight years of a Biden White House is starting to look like a reality.