COVID Relief

GH: targeted Covid relief is needed

While there are lots of people suffering, it may be as important to establish what is not needed. So, this short break in government generosity may help to clarify where the need is actual. First stimulus was quickly and brilliantly executed but clearly went to lost of places where it was not needed.

I was initially reading reports that $600+ payments are not distorting the market. Now I am reading that school buses can’t find drivers, they all quit either to Amazon or to unemployment.

GH, so we agree. I am saying that payments lapse, we will actually see who can not find a job, and who can. I am not saying this has to be done l’hathila, but at least the lobbyists will have less power.

The relief bill is such a farce. After Democrats and Republicans spend months bickering over the bill, they finally agree that every family can have three weeks worth of groceries on the governments dime. And since everyone finally decided to agree on the bill, lawmakers and lobbyists used the opportunity to stuff it with tarfus. The bill is five thousand pages long and Congress was given a full two hours to read the text before they had to vote on it.

To Yserbius: Don’t forget where the government gets its dimes.

I would prefer relief that only goes to those who have no or low income or very limited savings, but in a democracy, imperfect bargains are part of government.

As for Trump’s threatened veto, it is too little and way too late, and part of his scorched-earth tantrumitous exit plan.

>> bird in the hand

I agree. Still, Congress allowed President to make this threat by passing the law less than 10 days before the end of Congress. They had months but some preferred that election damage to President is more important. Now, he is ruining their Nittel Nacht.

Also, I would wait to judge one way or another before a story ends. Trump’s negotiating behavior is hard to predict. We just had 2 weeks of “why didn’t he buy more vaccines fro Pfizer”. Now, he did, using production capacity as a leverage. Maybe this will be signed, changed or re-submitted in 2 weeks.

Charlie: You are wasting your time seeking to respond on a rational basis to an irrational edited .  The regular government funding bill was combined with the Covid relief bill to assure that both would have the votes to pass both House and Senate. As you note, all the foreign aid funding was part of HIS original FY21 budget request submitted back in September. He is simply trying to find some reason to have the attention focused on him so he can claim credit for either an increased relief check or for even signing the original bill he threatened to veto. Fortunately, this choleria will be gone in 26 days. If people die because of his delaying this bill, I suspect Air Force One may just have to drop him in the Swamp (Everglades) on a long roundabout approach to West Palm Beach Airport since his neighbors have invoked his agreement never to use Mar a Lago for a permanent residence. At that time, we can all unite under the common theme of DRAIN THE SWAMP (and hopefully cheer as he goes down the proverbial drain).

I am /was a supporter a supporter of trump, what a immature little kindergartener to do what he did with the covid bill

Republican Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania has a grim outlook for President Donald Trump’s legacy—should he ultimately veto a $900 billion stimulus package over his demand for higher direct payments and subsequently allow a government shutdown to commence
“I understand he wants to be remembered for advocating for big checks,” Toomey said on Fox News Sunday. “But the danger is he’ll be remembered for chaos and misery and erratic behavior, if he allows this to expire.”

RE >> 1200 would have been a good compromise.

this does make sense. But, unless you did more real estate and peace deals with Arabs than Trump, I would wait for an outcome. I am not saying it ain’t goin’ to be a disaster, I just withhold opinion.

what do you think about Congress wisdom of net leaving themselves enough time to override a veto?
did they get tired of scheming after all previous outrageous acts? I think if you start a year by ripping President’s speech on live TV, you should watch your back till the of the year.

PS ripping the speech – seems like a curse that worked… the year indeed went in a totally different direction

So after trying to make a reality show over signing the Covid relief bill, the Trumpkopf just said he will sign it after making a fool of himself and Treasury Secretary Munchkin who negotiated the deal. Just 3 more weeks of this meshugaas before he is dragged out of the WH and shipped down to Florida where his neighbors have already gone to court to prevent him from moving in.

CTLawyer: here in CT if you quit a job, you don’t collect. If you are called back (such as when in person school restarted) and refuse you no longer can collect.

I believe it is the same here. There may be something in union contracts. It also seems that employers, especially small ones, are reluctant reporting employees to the government. Not sure.
There is better understanding now where the need for economic support is, so hopefully the moral hazard will be lower.

Going forward, we should look at employment levels. If they start going down again as they did under Obama, then all partial statistics, like unemployment rate, will not reflect actual effect on population.

I know I’m a little late regarding this point, but in NY state if an employee quits to look for another job, then doesn’t find one, he can legally collect unemployment. The employer despite not having fired him and that their unemployment tax rate will increase because of it, is powerless to fight it.

@Mammele
The employer is not powerless to fight it. Apparently the employer was happy enough with performance to not have fired the employee. So, upon notification of the potential charge against employer’s experience ratio, the former employer offers the employee the old job. If the offer ios refused, the former employee loses benefits and former employer is not penalized.

@Always
The former employee who quit, then loses new job and files for unemployment….
You extend an offer of reemployment. His/her return would not be under duress. You were not unsatisfied with performance. You offer same level position as previous with same benefits. the return is not under duress.
You are not chaining the former employee as a slave. Free to leave at any time, but not to cause you an increase in your unemployment tax rate, when not fired or laid off.

BTW…back 40 years ago I was the Director of Personnel for a multi state manufacturing company (CT, NY, PA and SC). I protested many an unemployment claim that I considered unjust, unfair, etc. I attended the hearings. Most employers don’t show and the ex employee collects by default. I never lost a case.