(From Seventh District Congressman Billy Long)To paraphrase a quote attributed to the late Sen. Everett Dirksen ‘A trillion here and a trillion there and pretty soon you’re talking about real money!’
Just over a month ago, Congress passed a $900 billion phase 4 COVID-19 relief package to provide critical relief to the American people. Before these funds have even been expended, President Biden is proposing a massive $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package. While there are items in this proposal that I would agree with and would be happy to work with the President on, there are some things that are extremely concerning.
When the CARES Act was first passed, it included a provision to supplement unemployment benefits with an additional $600 per week. This was critical in the outset of this pandemic as many businesses were forced to close their doors through no fault of their own.
When the CARES Act was first passed, it included a provision to supplement unemployment benefits with an additional $600 per week. This was critical in the outset of this pandemic as many businesses were forced to close their doors through no fault of their own.
During this time, I heard from many concerned small business owners that their businesses were opening again but their employees were not coming back to work because they were getting paid more to stay home. This is worrisome because Washington should be encouraging people to get back to work, not to stay home. That is why Democrats and Republicans agreed to lower the supplemental benefit to $300 weekly.
The Biden plan increases that benefit, ultimately encouraging many Americans to stay home and collect unemployment rather than return to work. This not only hurts small businesses that are trying to get on their feet again, but it hurts the economy by causing millions of people to file unemployment claims rather than return to work.
Another damaging provision in President Biden’s package is an increase in the minimum wage. This would be an increased cost on small businesses at a bad time and would cause some restaurants to increase their wages by 700 percent.
Another damaging provision in President Biden’s package is an increase in the minimum wage. This would be an increased cost on small businesses at a bad time and would cause some restaurants to increase their wages by 700 percent.
The fact of the matter is the cost of living throughout the United States varies greatly and the minimum wage should reflect that. Raising the minimum wage in Chicago to $15 may not have as detrimental of an impact on small businesses there, but raising it to $15 in southwest Missouri where the cost of living is significantly lower will be devastating to many small businesses and could force many who are barely hanging on through this pandemic to close their doors permanently.
A MO-7 constituent recently told me he’d love to pay $15 an hour to his employees but in order to find qualified reliable help, he currently pays $22 an hour and still has problems running full crews. You see, I believe supply and demand should dictate wage levels, not arbitrary edicts being handed down by those in their ivory towers in the nation’s capital.
While these and other economic provisions in President Biden’s plan are troubling, there are areas where we can work in a bipartisan fashion. Specifically, his provisions relating to health. Increased funding for vaccine distribution is critical to ensuring states can continue to vaccinate at their current rates.
While these and other economic provisions in President Biden’s plan are troubling, there are areas where we can work in a bipartisan fashion. Specifically, his provisions relating to health. Increased funding for vaccine distribution is critical to ensuring states can continue to vaccinate at their current rates.
Additionally, his plan would provide more funding for personal protective equipment (PPE), and expand testing even further. These health provisions are something Republicans and Democrats can agree on and I believe that there is plenty of room to work out an agreement on provisions like these.
Another positive coming from President Biden’s package is that it finally gets Democrats on board with reopening schools. For months, Republicans have been urging Democrats on the federal and state level to work to reopen schools, but our pleas fell on deaf ears. President Biden’s plan includes funding that schools can use to reopen and has finally brought Democrats on board with the prospect of getting kids back to school in a safe and responsible manner.
The $1.9 trillion price tag on President Biden’s relief package is extremely hefty and many aspects have been covered in previous relief packages that do not need to be included in this plan. President Biden’s plan can serve as a good starting point for a great bipartisan package, but all indications show that President Biden and Congressional Democrats plan to cut Republicans out of the process completely by forcing this package through with budget reconciliation, an expedited process that limits debate.
Another positive coming from President Biden’s package is that it finally gets Democrats on board with reopening schools. For months, Republicans have been urging Democrats on the federal and state level to work to reopen schools, but our pleas fell on deaf ears. President Biden’s plan includes funding that schools can use to reopen and has finally brought Democrats on board with the prospect of getting kids back to school in a safe and responsible manner.
The $1.9 trillion price tag on President Biden’s relief package is extremely hefty and many aspects have been covered in previous relief packages that do not need to be included in this plan. President Biden’s plan can serve as a good starting point for a great bipartisan package, but all indications show that President Biden and Congressional Democrats plan to cut Republicans out of the process completely by forcing this package through with budget reconciliation, an expedited process that limits debate.
The economic provisions in this package are certainly troubling, and while these provisions would benefit urban America, they will greatly damage rural America. There is plenty here that Republicans and Democrats can work together on, and I hope President Biden proves that he is the unifier he says he will be by including Republicans in the process and not leaving rural America behind with this relief package.
2 comments:
You mean like Trump and you fat cat republicans have done. Pass the minimum wage bill, relief bill, voting rights bill and other legislation to protect them with respect to worker safety and right to organize. so much has been not been done with republicans in control and less we not forget the fight against covid and basic right to decent and affordable healthcare. You need to spend some time working versus playing the crap tables in Las Vegas and have a town meeting for all and not sneak into town unannounced and meet with real people versus the wealthy entitled loyal minions.
Actually Mr. Long while I appreciate different points of view and providing facts, that you did not sir. Please state your causes with facts, while I know some things fall through the cracks, the State of Missouri requires you to return to work (with COVID exceptions in place) or you will be terminated and no longer receive the unemployment benefits.
The facts please, many of us are tired of the political rhetoric that just wants us to choose Republican or Democrat.
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