One of the elements of the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act), the bi-partisan stimulus program in response to COVID19, was the $250B Payroll Protection Plan.
The CARES Act was passed unanimously by both the Senate and the House on a unanimous consent. Wow!
The PPP was a good deal based on its popularity, a popularity that has drained its coffers. The PPP is broke. Out of money. The need was enormous.
The PPP has deployed $350,000,000,000 and has thousands of more applications, but it is out of money.
The Congress has known this for almost two weeks now.
The Senate Republicans saw this — the exhaustion of funds for PPP — coming and more than a week ago they proposed a single change to the CARES Act — change the single number $350,000,000,000 to $600,000,000,000.
That’s it. Just that. Nothing more. One single change. Two numbers, nothing else. Simple, right?
Why, Big Red Car?
The reason, dear reader, is that the bill then could be approved on a simple “unanimous consent.” The original CARES Act was passed on a unanimous consent motion, also.
A unanimous consent would not require either the Senate or the House to actually come back into town. What a sweet solution, no?
Two unanimous consents and the PPP is funded to take care of small business. Two quick actions and the US government would be able to deliver assistance to hard working men and women and small business. This is why government exists.
Elegant. Simple. Graceful. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
Why, Big Red Car, why not going to happen?
Because this prick, this Democrat Senator from Maryland Ben Cardin refused to consent thereby buggering the effort.
This. One. Prick. Senator. Ben. Cardin.
The Dems did it, Big Red Car?
Yes, dear reader, the Dems did it.
But it isn’t because they don’t agree with it. It’s because they intend to jam as much pork and earmarks into the bill as they possibly can — just like they did on the CARES Act.
They could do “simple” and wait for the next assistance bill to porkify, but no.
They — the Dems led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi intend to jam it full of their liberal legislative objectives even if it kills you and your small business. Because this is who they are.
I don’t believe you, Big Red Car!
Fine, dear reader. Let me show you all the shit the Dems stuffed into the CARES Act last time. Ready? Here it is:
$10,804,687,000 for international development
$350,000,000 for refugee resettlement
$93,000,000 for Congress ($25 million of which is for “salaries and expenses”)
$75,000,000 for PBS stations
$75,000,000 for the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities
$75,000,000 National Endowment for the Humanities
$50,000,000 for the Institute of Museum and Library Services
$25,000,000 for the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts
$7,500,000 for the Smithsonian Institution
These individual items, which have nothing to do with corona virus or the people and business suffering from the economic impact of COVID19, were inserted by the Dems to obtain their support.
The Republicans bought off the Dems, bartered for their votes for a unanimous consent with this pork.
President Trump, with his pragmatic hat on, held his nose, signed the bill, and got the aid to those who need it — hard working Americans and small businesses.
Speaker Pelosi meeting with Dem House leadership to cut up the pork?
Now, the Republican Senate and the President are trying to change one single number and the Dems are not willing to be helpful. They want pork, more pork, and even more pork for their liberal causes, not to combat COVID19.
How long can this go on, Big Red Car?
It’s gone for more than a week. Oh, dear reader, it can go on for a long time because Senator Ben Cardin isn’t going to change his mind and Speaker Nancy Pelosi has adjourned the House of Representatives until at least 4 May 2020.
Meanwhile, the PPP is out of money. Thousands of applications are in limbo. There won’t be any more money until the Dems get their mountain of pork.
And, that, dear reader, just isn’t right. It isn’t right to hold American small business, employees, vendors, landlords hostage to Nancy Pelosi’s pork addiction and tantrum.
The Republicans in Congress are trying to get support to hard working Americans and small businesses while the Dems are playing politics, have been playing politics for more than a week, while they are collecting their paychecks, with apparent lack of concern for you.
All I can say is: Remember In November