You all have heard by now that Moscow Mitch proved once again how immoral he is with his proposed fraud of a “fiscal stimilus” plan. We all knew this was coming because he locked Democrats out of any negotiations on his scheme to enrich corporations while a pandemic rages across America. Then, in McConnell fashion, he has attempted to ram this bill through with no real debate. All in the name of “helping” Americans out. Thankfully, Democrats have blocked this travesty from happening, and it appears they are not going to be cowed into passing an evil bill through the Congress. More importantly, even some weak kneed Democrats realize how bad McConnell’s scheme is.
And let’s face facts: setting up a $500 billion slush fund for corporations during a health and economic crisis is immoral.
Democrats are also unhappy with the portion of the bill aimed at helping distressed industries with at least $450 billion in loans. The massive fund would be controlled by the Treasury Department and could include bailouts to hotels, casinos, cruise lines, and the oil and gas industry. It includes virtually no restrictions on how the money would be distributed, allowing properties owned directly by President Donald Trump to receive a bailout, for example, according to a Democratic aide familiar with the negotiations.
Another provision in the bill Democrats oppose would allow Mnuchin to delay publicly releasing the names of businesses that receive a bailout, as well as the amounts of those loans, for six months.
“We’re not here to create a slush fund for Donald Trump and his family, or a slush fund for the Treasury Department to be able to hand out to their friends,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told reporters. “We’re here to help workers, we’re here to help hospitals. And right now what the Republicans proposed does neither of those.”
That is money that can go to workers and hospitals instead. If McConnell gets his way, his corporate bailout will mean that money is not available for workers and hospitals. And he had the gall to state the following:
“We’re fiddling here, fiddling with the emotions of the American people, fiddling with the markets, fiddling with our health care,” a visibly frustrated McConnell said in a floor speech after the vote, accusing Democrats of partisan obstruction that threatened the economy.
This from the man who took three days off during this crisis. And the same man who did everything he could to inflict economic pain on Americans during the Great Recession. All to sabotage Obama and bring about a Republican controlled Congress.
The good news is that it seems that Democrats are not going to be spooked into just doing something for the sake of Trump and the Republicans. And Trump and McConnell want to use the present fear to make Democrats bend to their will. But even the usual suspects of finger in the wind Democrats don’t seem to be in all the big a rush to pass any shit bill that McConnell crafts.
Major sticking points remain as of Sunday night, however. Democrats want more funding for hospitals and health care workers across the country who have struggled with shortages of beds and protective gear. They’re also demanding a bigger expansion of unemployment benefits for workers who get fired due to the pandemic.
“Wall Street’s going to do just fine. They’ve always rebounded real well ... let’s take care of the people we’re asking to take care of us if we need them,” Sen. Joe Manchin, a conservative Democrat from West Virginia, said in a floor speech.
Yes, even Joe Manchin of West Virginia knows that this is a turd of a bill. And West Virginians like Kentuckians think that Trump’s shit still doesn’t stink. Manchin plays to those same voters in his state, and I find it hopeful that he is not buying into this immoral piece of legislation.
I’d call my senators to urge them not to vote this POS bill, but the author of this bill is my senator. And my other asshole senator is Rand Paul. However, Paul may or may not be able to vote on any bill now that he has coronavirus. Not sure if Senate rules allow him to vote by proxy.
Oh well, Paul would not support it because there is no budgetary offset. Rolls eyes.