“Tucked into Congress’s massive stimulus bill: Tens of billions in special-interest tax giveaways” https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/12/22/congress-tax-breaks-stimulus/
GOP Senator Pat Toomey’s Last-Minute Add to Stimulus Bill Helps His Wall Street Donors https://www.newsweek.com/gop-senator-pat-toomeys-last-minute-add-stimulus-bill-helps-his-wall-street-donors-1556471 “…In all, Toomey has raked in more than $4 million from the securities and investment sector during his career, according to data compiled by OpenSecrets. Donors from large banks that do bond business comprise nine of Toomey’s top 20 contributors. They include Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo.
Those financial institutions are among the top 10 underwriters of municipal bonds, according to Bond Buyer. They are also represented on key committees of the Structured Finance Association—a corporate advocacy group that has been lobbying on issues related to the Federal Reserve’s municipal and small business lending programs, according to Senate disclosure records.”
“The Democrats moved to increase the size of the checks after President Trump threatened to oppose a more than $2 trillion pandemic aid and federal funding bill because it included $600 check to most Americans rather than $2,000.
The massive stimulus and government funding bill — which Congress passed Monday after Trump took no role in the talks in which lawmakers crafted it — included $900 billion in coronavirus relief.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and McCarthy, the top two Republicans in Congress, and their aides have been silent on Trump’s demand for bigger checks.
Along with the direct payments, the rescue package would add a $300 per week federal unemployment supplement, extends jobless benefit expansion provisions and a federal eviction moratorium, direct $284 billion to Paycheck Protection Program loans and put more than $8 billion into Covid-19 vaccine distribution, among other provisions. If Trump does not sign the legislation in the coming days, about 12 million people would lose unemployment benefits on Saturday — the day after Christmas — and the government would shut down on Tuesday.” https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/24/house-votes-on-2000-stimulus-checks-after-trump-supports-them.html
“The $2.3 trillion government funding and coronavirus relief package that was passed by Congress has arrived at President Trump’s resort in Florida.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a top Trump ally in Congress, was seen golfing with the president in Florida Friday by a pool reporter, though it was not immediately clear if they were discussing the package.” https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/531665-relief-bill-arrives-at-mar-a-lago-faces-uncertain-fate
“Governors facing the prospect of hundreds of thousands of their constituents losing out on badly needed relief during the coronavirus pandemic grew increasingly frustrated as Congress dragged its feet on a legislative package, and many became downright apoplectic after President Trump this week blew up delicate negotiations by saying he was not happy with a bill in which he previously paid little interest.
In interviews Wednesday and Thursday, top advisers to both Democratic and Republican governors said that anger at the lack of a coordinated federal response to combat the pandemic had reached a boiling point during negotiations over a relief package.” https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/531599-anger-at-congress-trump-mounts-among-governors
“President Trump unexpectedly capitulated Sunday night and signed the stimulus bill into law, releasing $900 billion in stimulus funds into the economy and averting a Tuesday government shutdown.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/12/27/trump-stimulus-shutdown-congress/
“After holding the bill up for nearly a week, White House officials didn’t explain why he decided to suddenly back down and sign a bill into law he had just days earlier referred to as a “disgrace.”
Trump signed the bill while vacationing in Florida and on a weekend when he had allowed unemployment benefits for 14 million Americans to expire.
In a statement he issued after signing the law, Trump released a long list of false claims and grievances. He said he would be sending a “redlined” version of the bill back to Congress “insisting that those funds be removed from the bill.”
Trump is only president for less than a month, and lawmakers are likely to ignore any such request.
In the same statement, he said “much more money is coming, and I will never give up my fight for the American people!”
On Sunday, Trump said he planned to travel to Georgia on Jan. 4 to help campaign for the two Republican candidates.”
“Tucked into Congress’s massive stimulus bill: Tens of billions in special-interest tax giveaways” https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/12/22/congress-tax-breaks-stimulus/
GOP Senator Pat Toomey’s Last-Minute Add to Stimulus Bill Helps His Wall Street Donors https://www.newsweek.com/gop-senator-pat-toomeys-last-minute-add-stimulus-bill-helps-his-wall-street-donors-1556471 “…In all, Toomey has raked in more than $4 million from the securities and investment sector during his career, according to data compiled by OpenSecrets. Donors from large banks that do bond business comprise nine of Toomey’s top 20 contributors. They include Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo.
Those financial institutions are among the top 10 underwriters of municipal bonds, according to Bond Buyer. They are also represented on key committees of the Structured Finance Association—a corporate advocacy group that has been lobbying on issues related to the Federal Reserve’s municipal and small business lending programs, according to Senate disclosure records.”
“The Democrats moved to increase the size of the checks after President Trump threatened to oppose a more than $2 trillion pandemic aid and federal funding bill because it included $600 check to most Americans rather than $2,000.
The massive stimulus and government funding bill — which Congress passed Monday after Trump took no role in the talks in which lawmakers crafted it — included $900 billion in coronavirus relief.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and McCarthy, the top two Republicans in Congress, and their aides have been silent on Trump’s demand for bigger checks.
Along with the direct payments, the rescue package would add a $300 per week federal unemployment supplement, extends jobless benefit expansion provisions and a federal eviction moratorium, direct $284 billion to Paycheck Protection Program loans and put more than $8 billion into Covid-19 vaccine distribution, among other provisions. If Trump does not sign the legislation in the coming days, about 12 million people would lose unemployment benefits on Saturday — the day after Christmas — and the government would shut down on Tuesday.”
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/24/house-votes-on-2000-stimulus-checks-after-trump-supports-them.html
“The $2.3 trillion government funding and coronavirus relief package that was passed by Congress has arrived at President Trump’s resort in Florida.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a top Trump ally in Congress, was seen golfing with the president in Florida Friday by a pool reporter, though it was not immediately clear if they were discussing the package.” https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/531665-relief-bill-arrives-at-mar-a-lago-faces-uncertain-fate
“Governors facing the prospect of hundreds of thousands of their constituents losing out on badly needed relief during the coronavirus pandemic grew increasingly frustrated as Congress dragged its feet on a legislative package, and many became downright apoplectic after President Trump this week blew up delicate negotiations by saying he was not happy with a bill in which he previously paid little interest.
In interviews Wednesday and Thursday, top advisers to both Democratic and Republican governors said that anger at the lack of a coordinated federal response to combat the pandemic had reached a boiling point during negotiations over a relief package.” https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/531599-anger-at-congress-trump-mounts-among-governors
“Trump’s threat to veto Covid relief bill is holding up $9 billion in state vaccine funding” https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/23/us-states-awederal-dollars-for-covid-vaccine-distribution-have-been-a-drop-in-the-bucket-as-shipments-begin.html
“President Trump unexpectedly capitulated Sunday night and signed the stimulus bill into law, releasing $900 billion in stimulus funds into the economy and averting a Tuesday government shutdown.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/12/27/trump-stimulus-shutdown-congress/
“After holding the bill up for nearly a week, White House officials didn’t explain why he decided to suddenly back down and sign a bill into law he had just days earlier referred to as a “disgrace.”
Trump signed the bill while vacationing in Florida and on a weekend when he had allowed unemployment benefits for 14 million Americans to expire.
In a statement he issued after signing the law, Trump released a long list of false claims and grievances. He said he would be sending a “redlined” version of the bill back to Congress “insisting that those funds be removed from the bill.”
Trump is only president for less than a month, and lawmakers are likely to ignore any such request.
In the same statement, he said “much more money is coming, and I will never give up my fight for the American people!”
On Sunday, Trump said he planned to travel to Georgia on Jan. 4 to help campaign for the two Republican candidates.”
8AM MST, tomorrow morning, 29th
“Fate of $2,000 stimulus checks proposal, backed by Trump, is in McConnell’s hands” https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/stimulus-checks-senate/2020/12/29/344fa850-49d9-11eb-839a-cf4ba7b7c48c_story.html
“Under pressure from Trump, Democratic leaders, and some fellow Republicans — as well as a legislative ultimatum delivered Monday by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) — McConnell must navigate a path that addresses the president’s concerns without exposing his party to political attacks one week before a pair of Georgia special elections that will determine the Senate majority.”
Background: “Sens. Ed Markey and Bernie Sanders say they’ll hold up a $740 billion defense bill until Republicans allow the Senate to vote on increasing COVID-19 stimulus checks to $2,000.” https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2020/12/second-stimulus-check-update-ed-markey-bernie-sanders-threaten-to-block-defense-bill-until-republicans-allow-vote-on-2000-covid-payments.html
Georgia’s two embattled Republican senators — Sen. David Perdue (R) and Kelly Loeffler, join growing number of Senate Republicans backing $2,000 stimulus checks (Dec. 29, 2020 at 9:10 a.m. MST) https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/stimulus-checks-senate/2020/12/29/344fa850-49d9-11eb-839a-cf4ba7b7c48c_story.html
“McConnell blocks Schumer’s bid to unanimously pass $2,000 stimulus checks” (Tue, Dec 29 202011:43 AM EST) https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/29/covid-stimulus-update-senate-considers-vote-on-2000-stimulus-checks.html
Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump 12:11 PM · Dec 29, 2020
“Unless Republicans have a death wish, and it is also the right thing to do, they must approve the $2000 payments ASAP. $600 IS NOT ENOUGH! Also, get rid of Section 230 – Don’t let Big Tech steal our Country, and don’t let the Democrats steal the Presidential Election. Get tough!” https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1343998076084748288
“McConnell moves to combine Trump asks in potential ‘poison pill’ for stimulus checks” (Updated 6:37 PM ET, Tue December 29, 2020) https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/29/politics/mcconnell-poison-pill-attached-to-bill/index.html
“$600 stimulus payments will start going out tonight, Treasury Secretary Mnuchin says” (Tue, Dec 29 2020 5:52 PM EST / Updated Tue, Dec 29 20207:03 PM EST) https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/29/stimulus-payments-will-start-going-out-tonight-treasury-secretary-mnuchin-says.html
“Second stimulus check update: Here’s McConnell’s price for approving your $2,000 payment” (12/30/20 8:30 AM) https://www.nj.com/coronavirus/2020/12/second-stimulus-check-update-heres-mcconnells-price-for-approving-your-2000-payment.html
“Did Mitch McConnell block relief bill for months because of a Kentucky nursing home mogul?” (December 18, 2020) https://www.salon.com/2020/12/18/did-mitch-mcconnell-block-relief-bill-for-months-because-of-a-kentucky-nursing-home-mogul/