Tag: COVID Relief
Corporations rigged rules to boost pandemic pay of CEOs
“By inflating executive compensation while their workers struggled during a pandemic, corporate boards have strengthened the case for tax penalties on huge CEO-worker pay gaps.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Tuesday, May 11, 2021 Dozens…
3/11 Pandemic Anniversary
by Wade Rathke March 11, 2021 New Orleans 9/11 has been a date fixed on the mental calendar of Americans for what will be twenty years this September of 2021. It is worth wondering whether…
‘Stop Nickel and Diming the American people’: Anger grows as Senate Democrats move to deny relief checks to 17 million
“While you’re quibbling over who you want to exclude, people are suffering. SEND THE CHECKS.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer March 5, 2021 The decision by the Senate Democratic leadership and President Joe Biden—for no…
With jobless benefits to expire in 9 days, Republicans pull out all stops to obstruct relief bill
“When Sen. Johnson voted to cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans, he didn’t force staff to read the bill. But now that working people need help, he’s forcing a delay.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Friday,…
Trump-appointed judge strikes down pandemic eviction moratorium
‘The CDC Must Appeal Immediately’ The pause on evictions was put in place to help stem the spread of Covid-19. by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Friday, February 26, 2021 A Trump-appointed federal judge in Texas on…
Income Ceiling on Benefits for the Rich
by Wade Rathke February 10, 2021 New Orleans For the record, I’m clear that the government needs to give more lower income families cash, and they need to do it pretty darned quick. At the…
More cash transfers, please and pronto
by Wade Rathke February 9, 2021 New Orleans Way back when the pandemic was over there, and then over here, and the shutdown of peoples’ lives and work began, can you remember in the first…
Lost jobs and rising hunger: St. Mary’s Food Bank shifts gears during COVID-19
We’re serving 1,000 families a day. That means we need a box of food for 4,000 people a day. This is why volunteers are very important. We have two volunteer shifts a day. One starts at…
Why opening restaurants is exactly what the Coronavirus wants us to do
Governors continue to open indoor dining and other activities before vaccinations become widespread. Experts warn this could create superspreading playgrounds for dangerous variants and squander our best shot at getting the pandemic under control. by Caroline…
‘Giant first step’: After 14+ hours of votes, Senate approves Covid relief resolution
With Zero GOP Support “We have the opportunity to give hope to the American people and restore faith in our government by telling them that… we understand the pain that they are experiencing and we are…
Manchin backs fast track process for Covid-19 relief
‘Pressure Works. And He’s Going to Need a Lot More’ The West Virginia senator also said he opposes raising the federal minimum wage to $15, setting up a potential clash with Sen. Bernie Sanders and other…
As GOP Senators push smaller Covid-19 relief package, Dem leaders move to advance Biden’s bolder plan
“Congress must pursue a bold and robust course of action. It makes no sense to pinch pennies when so many Americans are struggling,” said the Senate majority leader. by Jessica Corbett, staff write Monday, February 1,…
CBO warns employment won’t recover until 2024, GOP offers 3-month extension of jobless aid
‘Inhumane’ “Workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own shouldn’t be constantly worrying that they are going to lose their income overnight.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Monday, February 1, 2021 As…
‘We have got to act now’: As GOP introduces weak relief bill, Sanders says dems already have enough votes to pass stronger package
“We made promises to the American people. We’re going to keep those promises.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer Monday, February 1, 2021 Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont on Sunday told ABC host Martha Raddatz that there…
Are We Living in a Failed State?
by Wade Rathke January 27, 2021 New Orleans The inauguration was hardly a week ago, and the honeymoon is already over. Ok, you’re right. There was absolutely no honeymoon ever! Who is surprised? Probably no…
Budget Chair Sanders dares GOP to criticize him for using reconciliation to ‘protect ordinary people, not just the rich’
“If they want to criticize me for helping to feed children who are hungry or senior citizens in this country who are isolated and alone and don’t have enough food, they can criticize me.” by Jake…
‘One more check Is not enough’: Ilhan Omar calls on Biden to back recurring direct payments
“We need to provide those struggling and left behind with consistent reliable cash payments during this Covid-19 crisis.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Friday, January 22 Warning that one additional check is nowhere near sufficient to…
As Romney says Covid relief bill ‘not well-timed,’ Biden urged to abandon GOP outreach, move swiftly on relief package
“A Republican minority shouldn’t be allowed to hold the nation’s economic recovery and public health hostage.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Thursday, January 21 With Covid-19 killing thousands of people each day in the U.S. and…
Memo details steps Biden can take to sidestep GOP obstruction, from reconciliation to shutting down the filibuster
“Biden was elected with a mandate to break gridlock and deliver results. He should use it.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Tuesday, January 19 With Senate Republicans already indicating that they will attempt to block passage…
Yellen bolsters demand for Biden to enact bold FDR-style agenda,
‘Smartest Thing We Can Do Is Act Big’ “Instead of feel-good talk of unification,” said journalist John Nichols, “FDR called out the Wall Street speculators, the bankers, and their conservative apologists.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer…
Biden’s $1.9 trillion relief plan: $400 unemployment boost, $1,400 checks, and billions in additional aid
“Congress should immediately move to pass President-elect Biden’s plan,” said Claire Guzdar of the Groundwork Collaborative. “And we can’t stop there.” by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Thursday, January 14 With less than a week until he…
With Senate majority reclaimed, progressives demand bold agenda from Biden
‘No More Excuses’ “A working majority in both houses of Congress means that any decision to court Republican votes will be made by choice.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer Friday, January 8, 2021 With President Donald…
Sanders says ‘First order of business’ for Biden, new Democratic Congress must be Covid bill with $2,000 checks
The Vermont senator said Democrats have to be “bold in a way that we have not seen since FDR in the 1930s.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Friday, January 8, 2021 Sen. Bernie Sanders late Thursday…
Sanders urges Americans to call their senators and demand vote on $2,000 checks
‘A Matter of Life and Death’ “We need $2,000 stimulus checks, not $740,000,000,000 for the Pentagon and private ‘defense’ contractors,” said advocacy group CodePink. by Jake Johnson, staff writer Wednesday, December 30, 2020 Sen. Bernie Sanders…
