U.S. House Unveils $3 Trillion Coronavirus Package
By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) – The U.S. House of Representatives passed a massive $3 trillion virus aid package after batting back a last-minute Republican effort that threatened the measure.
President Donald Trump has already pledged to veto it in the unlikely event the Senate passes the expensive controversial bill.
Commentators said the 208-199 vote, over strong Republican opposition, showed the Democratic Party’s economic and health-care priorities ahead of November’s presidential and congressional elections.
The enormous Democratic-backed package would cost more than the prior four coronavirus bills combined. It would deliver almost $1 trillion for state and local governments. And there would be another round of $1,200 direct payments to individuals and help for the unemployed, renters, homeowners, college debt holders, and the struggling Postal Service.
Republicans expressed concerns that undocumented immigrants would also receive $1,200 coronavirus aid payments.
However, “Not to act now is not only irresponsible in a humanitarian way, but it is also irresponsible because it’s only going to cost more,” warned Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, “More in terms of lives, livelihood, cost to the budget, cost to our democracy.”
The proposed aid package came as economic destruction caused by the virus outbreak continued to trouble life in the United States. Retail sales plunged a record 16.4 percent in April, the government said earlier Friday, after an 8.3 percent drop in March.
The largest two-month decline on record prompted storied brands J.Crew, Neiman Marcus and J.C. Penney to file for bankruptcy.
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