Page 2 - aruba-today-20201222

A2 UP FRONT
Tuesday 22 december 2020
“At times we felt like we
were in the wilderness be-
cause people on all sides
of the aisle didn’t want to
give, in order to give the
other side a win,” Slotkin
said. “And it was gross to
watch, frankly.”
Republicans were most
intent on reviving the Pay-
check Protection Program
with $284 billion, which
would cover a second
round of PPP grants to es-
pecially hard-hit businesses.
Democrats won set-asides
for low-income and minor-
ity communities.
The sweeping bill also con-
tains $25 billion in rental as-
sistance, $15 billion for the-
aters and other live venues,
$82 billion for local schools,
colleges and universities,
and $10 billion for child
care.
The governmentwide ap-
propriations bill was likely
to provide a last $1.4 bil-
lion installment for Trump’s
In this Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, file photo, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky, speaks during a news conference U.S.-Mexico border wall as
with other Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill in Washington, while Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, listens at left. a condition of winning his
Associated Press signature. The Pentagon
would receive $696 bil-
Continued from Front not. And whether we help at the time was scoffed at and would be limited to 11 lion. Democrats and Sen-
The House was cruising to those dealing with a job by House Speaker Nancy weeks instead of 16 weeks. ate Republicans prevailed
a vote Monday night and loss or not. To me, this is not Pelosi, D-Calif., as way too The direct $600 stimulus in a bid to use bookkeep-
the Senate was expected a tough call.” little. payment was also half the ing maneuvers to squeeze
to vote shortly afterward. Democrats promised more Majority Leader Mitch Mc- March payment. $12.5 billion more for do-
Congress was passing a aid to come once Biden Connell, R-Ky., took a vic- The CARES Act was cred- mestic programs into the
one-week stopgap spend- takes office, but Republi- tory lap after blocking far ited with keeping the legislation.
ing bill to avert a partial cans were signaling a wait- more ambitious legislation economy from falling off The bill was an engine to
government shutdown at and-see approach. from reaching the Senate a cliff during widespread carry much of Capitol Hill’s
midnight and give Presi- The final agreement would floor. He said the pragmat- lockdowns in the spring, unfinished business, includ-
dent Donald Trump time to add to a national debt that ic approach of Biden was but Republicans controlling ing an almost 400-page
sign the sweeping legisla- has spiked by $7 trillion to key. the Senate cited debt con- water resources bill that
tion. $27.5 trillion during Trump’s “A few days ago, with a cerns in pushing against targets $10 billion for 46
Treasury Secretary Steven term. new president-elect of Democratic demands. Army Corps of Engineers
Mnuchin, a key negotia- The measure would fund their own party, everything “Anyone who thinks this bill flood control, environmen-
tor, said on CNBC Monday the government through changed. Democrats sud- is enough hasn’t heard the tal and coastal protection
morning that the direct September, wrapping a denly came around to our desperation in the voices of projects. Another addition
payments would begin ar- year’s worth of action on position that we should their constituents, has not would extend a batch of
riving in bank accounts annual spending bills into a find consensus, make law looked into the eyes of the soon-to-expire tax breaks,
next week. single package that never where we agree, and get small-business owner on the such as one for craft brew-
Democrats acknowledged saw Senate committee or urgent help out the door,” brink of ruin,” Schumer said. ers, wineries and distillers.
it wasn’t as robust a relief floor debate. McConnell said. Progress came after a bi- It also would carry numer-
package as they initially The legislation followed a On direct payments, the bill partisan group of prag- ous clean-energy provi-
sought — or, they say, the tortured path. Democrats provides $600 to individuals matists and moderates sions sought by Democrats
country needs. played hardball up until making up to $75,000 per devised a $908 billion plan with fossil fuel incentives
“This deal is not everything Election Day, amid accu- year and $1,200 to couples that built a middle-ground favored by Republicans, $7
I want — not by a long sations that they wanted making up to $150,000, position that the top four billion to increase access
shot,” said Rules Commit- to deny Trump a victory with payments phased out leaders of Congress — the to broadband, $4 billion to
tee Chairman Jim McGov- that might help him prevail. for higher incomes. An ad- GOP and Democratic help other nations vacci-
ern, R-Mass., a longstand- Democrats denied that, ditional $600 payment will leaders of both the House nate their people, $14 bil-
ing voice in the party’s old- but their demands indeed be made per dependent and Senate — used as the lion for cash-starved transit
school liberal wing. “The became more realistic child, similar to the last basis for their talks. The law- systems, $1 billion for Am-
choice before us is simple. after Trump’s loss and as round of relief payments in makers urged leaders on trak and $2 billion for air-
It’s about whether we help Biden made it clear that the spring. both sides to back off of ports and concessionaires.
families or not. It’s about half a loaf was better than The $300 per week bonus hardline positions. The Senate Historical Office
whether we help small none. jobless benefit was half the Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., said the previous record for
businesses and restaurants The final bill bore ample re- supplemental federal un- said delivering the virus re- the length of legislation was
or not. It’s about whether semblance to a $1 trillion employment benefit pro- lief means there’s still a “pi- the 2,847-page tax reform
we boost (food stamp) package put together by vided under the $1.8 billion lot light of hope of biparti- bill on 1986 — about one-
benefits and strengthen Senate Republican lead- CARES Act in March. That sanship that we can build half the size of Monday’s
anti-hunger programs or ers in July, a proposal that more generous benefit on to get things done.” behemoth.q