Bipartisan Bill Passed To Aid Hurting Americans

(AmericanProsperity.com) – The Senate rushed the $2.2 trillion stimulus bill through earlier this week, even with some complications and potential setbacks. Republicans believed the bill might provide an incentive for workers to leave jobs because they might receive more money staying at home. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) threatened to delay the bill if the additional unemployment compensations weren’t included.

In spite of the contention, the bill passed the Senate on Wednesday night with a 96-0 vote.

The House passed the stimulus bill on Friday afternoon with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) giving her signature. The bill then went to President Trump, who signed it into law early Friday evening. This could be the largest spending bill passed by way of a voice vote (shouting “aye” or “nay”) in American history.

BREAKING: The House passed the #coronavirus stimulus bill.

Here's what's in it:
💵 $1,200 to most adults
🏭 $500B to industries
🏥 $100B to hospitals
🏢 Unemployment: $600 extra/week (4mos for laid off workers)
📚 Student loans: 6 month pause for federal (not private) pic.twitter.com/6sSL2qEm6Q

— AJ+ (@ajplus) March 27, 2020

Although American taxpayers will receive direct payments, it’s unknown exactly when they’ll arrive. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said relief checks could arrive within three weeks. Hopefully, payments will arrive sooner than that for most people.

In the midst of the bill making its way through the branches of government, unemployment claims skyrocketed. As of March 27, jobless claims were approximately 3.3 million. By contrast, 665,000 were unemployed at the peak for the Great Recession in March 2009, which broke the previous record of 695,000 in October 1982.

The bill was almost delayed in the House for a few additional hours when Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) attempted to force a full “yes or no” vote. As a result, House members scrambled back to Washington, DC to avoid this potential delay. Massie received harsh criticism from some of his fellow Representatives over his actions.