Lt. Governor Dan Patrick of Texas wants all quarantine orders lifted and the economy started back up. In fact, he was quoted to say ‘Those of us who are 70 plus, we’ll take care of ourselves.’ Meaning thousands of lives would be sacrificed for the sake of our economy. As though America is so greedy that we don’t care. And our economy so weak we couldn’t withstand this.
I have no doubt the Lt. Governor professes to be pro-life.
Patrick can speak for himself, but he doesn’t speak for all of America. Both parties, Democrat and Republican alike, realize something needs to be done. Together they’ve passed a stimulus bill so big that our grand kids will probably have to pay it off.
The bill itself was a study in government. Senate Republicans wanting more help for corporations and the people that run them. House Democrats wanting the money to go to workers. It’s the old trickle down vs. rising tide fight that’s been going on for years.
In the end, it was the Democrats that won. They took a lot of heat doing it, and at times had to reel in their own members, but they got it done.
Corporations will not be allowed to use the money for stock buybacks. The money must find its way to workers. Unemployment benefits will pay the full amount of lost wages. Also, those benefits will be expanded to 4 months, including those individuals not ordinarily eligible.
Checks will be sent to those people that need them the most. $1,200 per individual and $2,400 for joint tax filers, as long as they fall below a certain earned income. Small businesses will receive interest free loans that might even be forgiven. In addition to that people will be allowed to use their retirement accounts without risk of penalty.
The bill understands this is serious. In the words of the President, it’s a pandemic. It’s not overblown and America needs to do everything we can.
Everything but let people die.
Good riding with you.
Joel Heitkamp
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