POLITICUSUSA
Treasury Secretary defended President Joe Biden‘s spending plans on infrastructure, education, and jobs, saying that the plans are necessary in order to keep the United States competitive and will yield “big returns.”
Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) have announced legislation that would set minimum federal standards for unemployment benefits nationwide. The legislation also includes a stipulation that unemployment benefits will receive an extra boost when unemployment is high.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will make the case for a global minimum tax rate to raise revenue in the United States as well as stop companies from shifting their profits overseas, a move that enables them to evade paying taxes.
Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) called on President Joe Biden to fire two Trump-appointed Social Security Administration officials––SSA Commissioner Andrew Saul and Deputy Commissioner David Black––after House Democrats accused them of “sabotaging” the effort to distribute direct coronavirus relief payments to tens of millions of seniors and people with disabilities.
Speaking to The Washington Post, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said only 0.1% of Covid-19 relief funds the Trump administration set aside for farmers went to Black farmers, aggravating existing economic gaps.
A group of Republican attorneys general has threatened legal action against President Joe Biden’s administration over the American Rescue Plan, a historic $1.9 trillion stimulus package that was last week signed into law to address the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. They argue the stimulus package is unconstitutional and example of government overreach. They take particular issue with the $350 billion in the measure that went to states and counties to help them offset the costs of handling the pandemic.
Fox News personality Tomi Lahren said President Joe Biden‘s administration’s $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief package amounts to little more than “blue state bailouts.”
“It is so blatantly obvious what’s going on, piss poor leaders have been champing at the bit to pass off their blue state bailouts as ‘COVID Relief,’ she said.
The House of Representatives is moving toward final approval of the Covid-19 stimulus package in what would mark President Joe Biden‘s first legislative victory since taking office. The House had a two-hour morning debate earlier today ahead of a final vote on the bill.
Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that a family of four making less than $150,000 with school-age kids would get $8,200 in stimulus cash and tax credits.
Republicans have been lying about the Biden stimulus. The majority of the stimulus money goes to help individuals in the middle class and below.
The economy beat job growth estimates by adding 379,000 new jobs in February, as signs are that the economy is moving in the right direction.
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, who was confirmed by the Senate just last week, has confirmed that her department, thanks to its reactivated loan program, has more than $40 billion in funds to boost the transition to clean energy sources. Though Granholm did not offer a timeline on when these loans would be offered, the news marks an important step for the United States as it further divests itself from fossil fuels and addresses the climate crisis.
Speaking at a virtual event hosted by The New York Times, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said a proposal to send $1,400 direct payments to Americans will help those who are struggling, particularly those who are not receiving other targeted forms of assistance.
President Joe Biden didn't mince words on Tuesday when it came to Republican efforts to block COVID relief legislation.
President Joe Biden continues to get high marks overall, according to a special online edition of the CNBC All-America Economic Survey, which found he has a 62% percent approval rating, a rating higher than those of the last four presidents.
“Fox and Friends” co-host Brian Kilmeade criticized efforts to raise the federal minimum wage, which has remained at $7.25 an hour for more than a decade, the longest amount of time without an increase.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Congressional Democrats will announce a $15 minimum wage bill during a video conference at 11:30 a.m. EST today.
The Raise the Wage Act “would increase the federal minimum wage to $15 in five steps over the next four years, increasing pay for nearly 32 million workers,” according to a press release.
Susan Collins was happy to cast a vote for Donald Trump's $2 trillion tax cut for the wealthiest individuals and corporations.
If Republicans really want to demonstrate that they care about unity, they would immediately get behind Joe Biden's economic rescue package.
Unemployment claims have spiked again.
The Department of Labor (DOL) reports that unemployment claims in the first full week of January spiked to a seasonally adjusted 965,000, Additionally, non-adjusted claims rose to 1.2 million and the number receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) rose to 284,500.