You may be relieved to know that the amount of money we received in the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act is not really the 2.2 Trillion we thought. $900 Billion was the pandemic portion of the bill according to the Associated Press analysis. But what about the rest of the money. Where did it go? Well, maybe to you. And then again, maybe not. Take a look.
$10 Billion for the USPS (forgiveness of a previous federal loan)
409.4 million First Step Act programs (“get out of jail early” cards)
The real fun begins with the “Other provisions”, known on the Hill as
(“loading up the Christmas tree”)
The Horseracing Integrity Safety act to combat horse doping
A tax deduction for corporate meal expenses, fondly known as the “three-martini lunch”
Increasing Pell Grants to $6495 while adding incarcerated students
Reaffirming U.S. policy on the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama
And my personal favorite
Blocking the greater sage grouse from being listed under the Endangered Species Act.
These provisions may (or may not) be beneficial, but it is unclear to me that they will in any way give me Coronavirus Relief.
If you really want to know the whole sordid story, tap here.
Stay tuned to see where the next big new Coronavirus Relief money goes.