Bringing the ‘Stimulus’ Back to Stimulus

As of press time, legislators are deep into strategizing and posturing around their desired ends for an additional “stimulus” package to provide relief to the American economy, and to those in the economy most affected by the pandemic and the measures taken in response to it. The $2.2 trillion price tag of the CARES Act has been deemed insufficient by virtually all parties, a few GOP senators possibly the exception. The White House, led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, chief of staff Mark Meadows, and President Trump himself, have signaled their own wish-list items. House Democrats actually passed their HEROES Act bill in the House over two months ago. That came with a $3 trillion (plus change) price tag. The bill was never taken up by the Senate, but it provided a marker for what Democrats are looking for in the next bill. Senator McConnell is preparing to present his first draft, though building consensus in the Senate is not proving easy either.