Tag: Trump pandemic

Senate sets up Tuesday session to try to pass coronavirus relief deal

The Hill logoThe Senate will try to pass a forthcoming agreement on coronavirus aid as soon as Tuesday if negotiators are able to reach a deal.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) amended the Senate schedule to set up the Tuesday meeting; the chamber had previously only been expected to meet this week on Monday and Thursday.

The Tuesday meeting will give the chamber another chance to pass a deal on an “interim” coronavirus relief bill, and keep the House on track with Majority Leader Steny Hoyer‘s timeline of voting as soon as Wednesday. Continue reading.

McConnell sets up Tuesday session, buys time for virus aid deal

Sticking points on aid bill include funding for state and local governments, and how virus testing money would be distributed

Congressional leaders and the White House were unable to reach agreement on a nearly $500 billion coronavirus relief package before the Senate met for a brief session Monday, blowing past a deadline both parties hoped they’d be able to meet.

Negotiations are continuing on outstanding issues, with the Senate now expected to come back into session Tuesday afternoon to try to pass the bill.

“At this hour, our Democratic colleagues are still prolonging their discussions with the administration, so the Senate regretfully won’t be able to pass more funding for Americans’ paychecks today,” Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said on the floor. Continue reading.

This chart speaks volumes about the Trump pandemic — and the Trump depression

AlterNet logoThe jobs market carnage is shown in sharp focus in the graphic below from the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center in Washington.

In just four weeks we have seen 22 million jobs disappear. That’s a huge number, the equivalent of the combined workforces of Georgia, Illinois, Maryland and Pennsylvania. A Federal Reserve study suggests we will reach a 32% unemployment, far worse than in the depths of the 1930s Great Depression, when the rate was just shy of 25%.

Job losses during the 1990, 2001 and 2008 recessions rose slowly and steadily. Each took more than six months to reach their peaks, giving people warnings and time to adjust as best they could. Continue reading.