AP: Biden unveiling $1.9T coronavirus action plan

hanimmal

Well-Known Member
https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-coronavirus-action-plan-3d8d5841bb9098a81ad9452fb2619024
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WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden is unveiling a $1.9 trillion coronavirus plan Thursday to turn the tide on the pandemic, speeding up the vaccine rollout and providing financial help to individuals, states and local governments and businesses struggling with the prolonged economic fallout.

Called the “American Rescue Plan,” the legislative proposal would meet Biden’s goal of administering 100 million vaccines by the 100th day of his administration, while advancing his objective of reopening most schools by the spring. On a parallel track, it would deliver another round of aid to stabilize the economy while the public health effort seeks the upper hand on the pandemic, said aides who described the plan ahead of a speech by Biden on Thursday evening.

It includes $1,400 checks for most Americans, which on top of $600 provided in the most recent COVID-19 bill would bring the total to the $2,000 that Biden has called for. The plan would also extend a temporary boost in unemployment benefits and a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures through September.

And it shoehorns in long-term Democratic policy aims such as increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour, expanding paid leave for workers, and increasing tax credits for families with children. The last item would make it easier for women to go back to work, which in turn would help the economy recover.
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The political outlook for the legislation remained unclear. In a joint statement, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer praised Biden for including liberal priorities, saying they would move quickly to pass it. But Democrats have narrow margins in both chambers of Congress and Republicans will push back on issues that range from increasing the minimum wage to providing more money for states, while demanding inclusion of their priorities, such as liability protection for businesses.

The emergency legislation would be paid for with borrowed money, adding to trillions in debt the government has already incurred to confront the pandemic. Aides said Biden will make the case that the additional spending and borrowing is necessary to prevent the economy from sliding into an even deeper hole. Interest rates are low, making debt more manageable. The aides spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the plan ahead of his speech Thursday night.

Biden has long held that economic recovery is inextricably linked with controlling the coronavirus. “Our work begins with getting COVID under control,” he declared in his victory speech. “We cannot repair the economy, restore our vitality or relish life’s most precious moments until we get it under control.”

The plan comes as a divided nation is in the grip of the pandemic’s most dangerous wave yet. So far, more than 385,000 people have died of COVID-19 in the U.S. And government numbers out Thursday reported a jump in weekly unemployment claims, to 965,000, a sign that rising infections are forcing businesses to cut back and lay off workers.

Under Biden’s multipronged strategy, about $400 billion would go directly to combating the pandemic, while the rest is focused on economic relief and aid to states and localities.

About $20 billion would be allocated for a more disciplined focus on vaccination, on top of some $8 billion already approved by Congress. Biden has called for setting up mass vaccination centers and sending mobile units to hard-to-reach areas.

MORE COVID-19 NEWS:
The plan provides $50 billion to expand testing, which is seen as key to reopening most schools by the end of the new administration’s first 100 days. About $130 billion would be allocated to help schools reopen without risking further contagion.

The plan would fund the hiring of 100,000 public health workers, to focus on encouraging people to get vaccinated and on tracing the contacts of those infected with the coronavirus.

There’s also a proposal to boost investment in genetic sequencing, to help track new virus strains including the more contagious variants identified in the United Kingdom and South Africa.

Throughout the plan, there’s a focus on ensuring that minority communities that have borne the brunt of the pandemic are not shortchanged on vaccines and treatments, aides said.

With the new proposals comes a call to redouble efforts on the basics.

Biden is asking Americans to override their sense of pandemic fatigue and recommit to wearing masks, practicing social distancing and avoiding indoor gatherings, particularly larger ones. It’s still the surest way to slow the COVID-19 wave, with more than 4,400 deaths reported just on Tuesday.

Biden’s biggest challenge will be to “win the hearts and minds of the American people to follow his lead,” said Dr. Leana Wen, a public health expert and emergency physician.

With the backing of Congress and the expertise of private and government scientists, the Trump administration has delivered two highly effective vaccines and more are on the way. Yet a month after the first shots were given, the nation’s vaccination campaign is off to a slow start with about 10.3 million people getting the first of two shots, although more than 29 million doses have been delivered.

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Full Coverage: Coronavirus pandemic

Biden believes the key to speeding that up lies not only in delivering more vaccine but also in working closely with states and local communities to get shots into the arms of more people. The Trump administration provided the vaccine to states and set guidelines for who should get priority for shots, but largely left it up to state and local officials to organize their vaccination campaigns.

“This is going to entail coordination at all levels, as well as resources,” said Dr. Nadine Gracia, executive vice president of the nonpartisan Trust for America’s Health. “There is a commitment the (incoming) administration has articulated to address the needs of communities.”

Biden has set a goal of administering 100 million shots in his first 100 days. The pace of vaccination is approaching 1 million shots a day, but 1.8 million a day would be needed to reach widespread or “herd” immunity by the summer, according to a recent estimate by the American Hospital Association. Wen says the pace should be even higher — closer to 3 million a day.

It’s still unclear how the new administration will address the issue of vaccine hesitancy, the doubts and suspicions that keep many people from getting a shot. Polls show it’s particularly a problem among Black Americans. “It’s important to acknowledge the reasons why it exists and work to earn trust and build vaccine confidence in communities,” said Gracia.

Next Wednesday, when Biden will be sworn in as president, marks the anniversary of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the United States.
 

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
With the vaccine rollout being slower than molasses in the winter this pandemic is sure to be with us through this year. Without a huge stimulus the economy is going to be so damaged it will take years to recover. Just like last time.

However without stimulus payments to people all the money dumped into businesses will be just a stopgap measure.

In our very little community the people in charge took some of the stimulus money and made vouchers for $25 for the four area eateries. No change. No cash value. The restaurant can redeem it for the full $25. Big whoop? It is for the owners. It is for the supply houses they buy from and our little general store. It means something at the gas station.

People and this dread fear of “socialism” need to actually read and travel. Meet some people from somewhere other than here. We need to seriously discuss Universal Basic Income.
 

xtsho

Well-Known Member
With the vaccine rollout being slower than molasses in the winter this pandemic is sure to be with us through this year. Without a huge stimulus the economy is going to be so damaged it will take years to recover. Just like last time.

However without stimulus payments to people all the money dumped into businesses will be just a stopgap measure.

In our very little community the people in charge took some of the stimulus money and made vouchers for $25 for the four area eateries. No change. No cash value. The restaurant can redeem it for the full $25. Big whoop? It is for the owners. It is for the supply houses they buy from and our little general store. It means something at the gas station.

People and this dread fear of “socialism” need to actually read and travel. Meet some people from somewhere other than here. We need to seriously discuss Universal Basic Income.
Most of those screaming about socialism don't even know what it is. I remember when Obama was running in 2008 and people were carrying signs like this:



Who the hell do they think administers Medicare? Just another example of why so many around the world use the term "Dumb Americans". We have some of the smartest people in the world but at the same time we also have some of the dumbest. The dumbest have a herd mentality where they all propagate the same stupidity and falsehoods within the ignorance of their echo chamber.
 

hanimmal

Well-Known Member
With the vaccine rollout being slower than molasses in the winter this pandemic is sure to be with us through this year. Without a huge stimulus the economy is going to be so damaged it will take years to recover. Just like last time.

However without stimulus payments to people all the money dumped into businesses will be just a stopgap measure.

In our very little community the people in charge took some of the stimulus money and made vouchers for $25 for the four area eateries. No change. No cash value. The restaurant can redeem it for the full $25. Big whoop? It is for the owners. It is for the supply houses they buy from and our little general store. It means something at the gas station.

People and this dread fear of “socialism” need to actually read and travel. Meet some people from somewhere other than here. We need to seriously discuss Universal Basic Income.
That is a great idea.

People would I bet generally buy as close to $25 bucks worth or spend a little more helping that restaurant keep pace.

It is a shame that these historic economic terms have been so propagandized and then politicized. They really are meaningless when it comes to good economic policy.
 

hanimmal

Well-Known Member
https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-politics-coronavirus-pandemic-ron-klain-4b1bf78136b2b12392dcc16a7e4aad7f
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WASHINGTON (AP) — In his first hours as president, Joe Biden plans to take executive action to roll back some of the most controversial decisions of his predecessor and to address the raging coronavirus pandemic, his incoming chief of staff said Saturday.

The opening salvo would herald a 10-day blitz of executive actions as Biden seeks to act swiftly to redirect the country in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidency without waiting for Congress.

On Wednesday, following his inauguration, Biden will end Trump’s restriction on immigration to the U.S. from some Muslim-majority countries, move to rejoin the Paris climate accord and mandate mask-wearing on federal property and during interstate travel. Those are among roughly a dozen actions Biden will take on his first day in the White House, his incoming chief of staff, Ron Klain, said in a memo to senior staff.

Other actions include extending the pause on student loan payments and actions meant to prevent evictions and foreclosures for those struggling during the pandemic.

“These executive actions will deliver relief to the millions of Americans that are struggling in the face of these crises,” Klain said in the memo. “President-elect Biden will take action — not just to reverse the gravest damages of the Trump administration — but also to start moving our country forward.”

“Full achievement” of Biden’s goals will require Congress to act, Klain wrote, including the $1.9 trillion virus relief bill he outlined on Thursday. Klain said that Biden would also propose a comprehensive immigration reform bill to lawmakers on his first day in office.

Providing a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants in the U.S. illegally will be part of Biden’s agenda, according to people briefed on his plans. Ali Noorani, president of the National Immigration Forum and among those briefed, said immigrants would be put on an eight-year path. There would be a faster track for those in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which shields people from deportation who came to the U.S. as children, and for those from strife-torn countries with temporary status.

On Thursday, the new president’s second day in office, Biden would sign orders related to the COVID-19 outbreak aimed at reopening schools and businesses and expanding virus testing, Klain said. The following day, Friday, will see action on providing economic relief to those suffering the economic costs of the pandemic.

In the following week, Klain said, Biden would take additional actions relating to criminal justice reform, climate change and immigration — including a directive to speed the reuniting of families separated at the U.S.-Mexico border under Trump’s policies.

More actions will be added, Klain said, once they clear legal review.

Incoming presidents traditionally move swiftly to sign an array of executive actions when they take office. Trump did the same, but he found many of his orders challenged and even rejected by courts.

Klain maintained that Biden should not suffer similar issues, saying “the legal theory behind them is well-founded and represents a restoration of an appropriate, constitutional role for the President.”
 

hanimmal

Well-Known Member
https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-legislation-immigration-border-security-2179887c74cfd8d156bbd293abfc9fb0
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden plans to unveil a sweeping immigration bill on Day One of his administration, hoping to provide an eight-year path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. without legal status, a massive reversal from the Trump administration’s harsh immigration policies.

The legislation puts Biden on track to deliver on a major campaign promise important to Latino voters and other immigrant communities after four years of President Donald Trump’s restrictive policies and mass deportations. It provides one of the fastest pathways to citizenship for those living without legal status of any measure in recent years, but it fails to include the traditional trade-off of enhanced border security favored by many Republicans, putting passage in a narrowly divided Congress in doubt.

Expected to run hundreds of pages, the bill is set to be introduced after Biden takes the oath of office Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the legislation and granted anonymity to discuss it.

MORE ON BIDEN TRANSITION
As a candidate, Biden called Trump’s actions on immigration an “unrelenting assault” on American values and said he would “undo the damage” while continuing to maintain border enforcement.

Under the legislation, those living in the U.S. as of Jan. 1, 2021, without legal status would have a five-year path to temporary legal status, or a green card, if they pass background checks, pay taxes and fulfill other basic requirements. From there, it’s a three-year path to naturalization, if they decide to pursue citizenship.

For some immigrants, the process would be quicker. So-called Dreamers, the young people who arrived in the U.S. illegally as children, as well as agricultural workers and people under temporary protective status could qualify more immediately for green cards if they are working, are in school or meet other requirements.

The bill is not as comprehensive as the last major immigration overhaul proposed when Biden was vice president during the Obama administration.

For example, it does not include a robust border security element, but rather calls for coming up with strategies. Nor does it create any new guest worker or other visa programs.

It does address some of the root causes of migration from Central America to the United States, and provides grants for workforce development and English language learning.

Biden is expected to take swift executive actions to reverse other Trump immigration actions, including an end to the prohibition on arrivals from several predominantly Muslim countries.

During the Democratic primary, Biden consistently named immigration action as one of his “day one” priorities, pointing to the range of executive powers he could invoke to reverse Trump’s policies.

Biden allies and even some Republicans have identified immigration as a major issue where the new administration could find common ground with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and enough other GOP senators to avoid the stalemate that has vexed administrations of both parties for decades.

That kind of major win — even if it involves compromise — could be critical as Biden looks for legislative victories in a closely divided Congress, where Republicans are certain to oppose other Biden priorities that involve rolling back some of the GOP’s 2017 tax cuts and increasing federal spending.

As a candidate, Biden went so far as to say the Obama administration went too far in its aggressive deportations.
 

Unclebaldrick

Well-Known Member
I've been monitoring OAN. Boy did they become fiscally conservative in a big fucking hurry. When Dimwald wanted $2000 per person they were right up his ass with it. But now that Biden wants to deliver it, its a "$1.9 trillion boondoggle."

Hilarious.
 

DIY-HP-LED

Well-Known Member
I've been monitoring OAN. Boy did they become fiscally conservative in a big fucking hurry. When Dimwald wanted $2000 per person they were right up his ass with it. But now that Biden wants to deliver it, its a "$1.9 trillion boondoggle."

Hilarious.
When Trump goes away (soon we hope) these clowns will be like headless chickens running around waiting for the next messiah to come down the pike. The corp and big donor cash is cut off from the loonies, that much is clear, their sources of financing will be attacked. The republicans are divided and Mitch is in a war for control of the wild elephant with Donald, there is a pretty good chance that Joe will get what he needs for bailouts. You have control of the government and the conservatives on the SCOTUS have seen their ideological home burned to the ground in front of their eyes.

In sacking the capital the Trumpers got far more than they bargained for, they got put on a future domestic terrorist watch list as well as doing federal time. I always thought Trump would take over a thousand to prison with him, but that number has now multiplied greatly to include the most fanatical of the base. By summer Joe and the new congress should have a lot of this shit straightened out and covid knocked down to a reasonable level with mass inoculations
 

VILEPLUME

Well-Known Member
Most of those screaming about socialism don't even know what it is. I remember when Obama was running in 2008 and people were carrying signs like this:



Who the hell do they think administers Medicare? Just another example of why so many around the world use the term "Dumb Americans". We have some of the smartest people in the world but at the same time we also have some of the dumbest. The dumbest have a herd mentality where they all propagate the same stupidity and falsehoods within the ignorance of their echo chamber.
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Rob Roy

Well-Known Member
We need to seriously discuss Universal Basic Income.
Certainly discussion is a good idea. The first point is, nobody has any right to force universal basic income on people, like they are children getting an allowance.

The other point is, it doesn't work.

I'd love to hear you offer your rebuttal to the points this young lady makes in the video.

 

hanimmal

Well-Known Member
Certainly discussion is a good idea. The first point is, nobody has any right to force universal basic income on people, like they are children getting an allowance.

The other point is, it doesn't work.

I'd love to hear you offer your rebuttal to the points this young lady makes in the video.

She lied 14 seconds into the video.

"Universal Basic Income has gotten much fanfare in recent years, even gaining a lab to study it at Standord on the heels of popular promotion by presidential candidates like Andrew Yang."


Except, Stanford started their lab in Feb 2017.
And Yang announced November 2017.



Just making sure I wasn't getting the definition of 'on the heels' wrong:
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So yeah if she is already lying 14 seconds into the video, I don't see much reason to keep watching it.
 

Rob Roy

Well-Known Member
So yeah if she is already lying 14 seconds into the video, I don't see much reason to keep watching it.
Found this excerpt from a story published online. It's possible the woman in the video may have been referring to this and not what you posted.
I don't know.

Benjamin Leff and Peter Paras, graduate students at Stanford University and co-founders of the polling firm Reality Check, surveyed more than 640 Yang supporters and asked them how they would spend a theoretical dividend of $1,000 a month.


Anyhow, I'm not surprised you prefer not to take a stab at the fundamental economic points she makes in the video, instead fixating on something else which may have been an error on her part or an error of assumption on your part. I think the more relevant points concerning UBI remain unaddressed and unrebutted. Tsk tsk.
 

Sativied

Well-Known Member
I think the more relevant points concerning UBI remain unaddressed and unrebutted. Tsk tsk.
You cherrypicked a stupid youtube vid and expect others to come up with rebuttals of said stupid youtube vid, on which you base UBI can’t work. If you had any desire to learn the facts, you would have found some of the many far smarter people who refuted the nonsense of your stupid youtube vid. ‘Printing’ money does not automatically lead to inflation. Japan tried that on purpose and failed for many years, EU with its quantitive easing also disproved that backward cliche. In reality, ’fundamental economics’, of which you pretend to understand anything, dictate it’s an increase in demand of products that results in inflation. If you want to learn and discuss rather than reinforce your false notions, read opoosing views, for example from Rutger Bregman. Besides that, the whole concept of money today is something governments and rich people use to enslave people, slave.
 

Rob Roy

Well-Known Member
You cherrypicked a stupid youtube vid and expect others to come up with rebuttals of said stupid youtube vid, on which you base UBI can’t work. If you had any desire to learn the facts, you would have found some of the many far smarter people who refuted the nonsense of your stupid youtube vid. ‘Printing’ money does not automatically lead to inflation. Japan tried that on purpose and failed for many years, EU with its quantitive easing also disproved that backward cliche. In reality, ’fundamental economics’, of which you pretend to understand anything, dictate it’s an increase in demand of products that results in inflation. If you want to learn and discuss rather than reinforce your false notions, read opoosing views, for example from Rutger Bregman. Besides that, the whole concept of money today is something governments and rich people use to enslave people, slave.
Your last line made some sense. Congrats. The rest of your post was vehement, but maybe falling short in veracity.
Just so we are on the same page, could you offer your definition of inflation and what DOES cause it ?

If not, have a pleasant evening Madam.
 

Sativied

Well-Known Member
Your reading comprehension is failing you, I already answered that. Since you pretend to know anything about fundamental economics, why even ask me? Unlike you I don’t pretend to have my own definitions, look-it-up and teach yourself.

Here’s another line that should make sense: UBI is like a negative tax. How can you be against that? Tax is robbery right (sure feels like it to me) so I wouldn’t mind getting some back. I also wouldn’t mind poor people getting an UBI, cause there’s little as bad for the economy as people stuck in poverty. It takes 10-50k per poor person to get most of them back to being a positive influence on the economy. We actually have a TV show doing just that and turned it into entertainmen... win/win?
 

Rob Roy

Well-Known Member
I can be against UBI regardless of it's efficacy (real or imagined), because it violates individual rights to engage or disengage from other peoples ideas.
Meaning it isn't a voluntary participation thing for some and contains some nonconsensual aspects. I can't support that.

It's robbery and I am against that, why aren't you?
 

hanimmal

Well-Known Member
Found this excerpt from a story published online. It's possible the woman in the video may have been referring to this and not what you posted.
I don't know.

Benjamin Leff and Peter Paras, graduate students at Stanford University and co-founders of the polling firm Reality Check, surveyed more than 640 Yang supporters and asked them how they would spend a theoretical dividend of $1,000 a month.


Anyhow, I'm not surprised you prefer not to take a stab at the fundamental economic points she makes in the video, instead fixating on something else which may have been an error on her part or an error of assumption on your part. I think the more relevant points concerning UBI remain unaddressed and unrebutted. Tsk tsk.
You are wrong, I actually took the time to look up when Yang announced his candidacy, and also the founding of the lab that she falsely stated (immediately at the start of the video) was started at Stanford because Yang making universal income popular.

If you were not disingenuous and wanted to have a legitimate conversation about this, you would read the Stanford site/research (linked in my response to you) and not expect me to comment about some internet youtube troll's false flags.

But you are not genuine. At least not that I have seen outside of maybe talking about using brambles to make things to use in gardens.
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
I can be against UBI regardless of it's efficacy (real or imagined), because it violates individual rights to engage or disengage from other peoples ideas.
Meaning it isn't a voluntary participation thing for some and contains some nonconsensual aspects. I can't support that.

It's robbery and I am against that, why aren't you?
Just take YOUR ubi, give it away. Donate it to charity. Problem solved.
 

Rob Roy

Well-Known Member
Just take YOUR ubi, give it away. Donate it to charity. Problem solved.
You are wrong, I actually took the time to look up when Yang announced his candidacy, and also the founding of the lab that she falsely stated (immediately at the start of the video) was started at Stanford because Yang making universal income popular.

If you were not disingenuous and wanted to have a legitimate conversation about this, you would read the Stanford site/research (linked in my response to you) and not expect me to comment about some internet youtube troll's false flags.

But you are not genuine. At least not that I have seen outside of maybe talking about using brambles to make things to use in gardens.
To be clear I'm not arguing when Stanford began looking at UBI. I don't think Pholosopher is either, but I don't know for sure and neither do you. I base that on an extrapolation. She said gained "a lab", that could mean she's referring to a particular lab done AFTER the one you are referring to.

I suppose I could ask her, but it's not a point that I'm hung up on.

Either way, UBI is undeniably a tool of control and in my opinion a bait and switch which many people will fall for. It smacks of "free candy" from government and in my opinion has perverse incentives and undermines self determination. There are consequences to being "owned", the candy can be turned off by those who give it out.
 
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