Promising people vaccine shots and cash payments, Biden White House kicks off stimulus tour

[webfact]

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden is applauded by Vice President Kamala Harris and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) as he arrives to speak about the $1.9 trillion "American Rescue Plan Act" during an event to celebrate the legislation in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 12, 2021. REUTERS/Tom Brenner/File Photo

By Trevor Hunnicutt and Nandita Bose

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With a promise of "shots in arms and money in pockets," President Joe Biden on Monday kicked off a week of promotion and travel for the $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill he signed into law last week to help the country move past the COVID-19 pandemic.

Biden and other advocates including Vice President Kamala Harris and first lady Jill Biden are being deployed to various states and to television as part of what the White House is calling the "Help Is Here Tour."

The package, one of the largest economic stimulus measures in U.S. history, provides $1,400 direct payments to most Americans, $350 billion in aid to state and local governments, an expansion of the child tax credit and increased funding for vaccine distribution.

"Help is here, and hope is here, in real and tangible ways," Biden said in remarks from the White House.

The legislation was Biden's first legislative priority on taking office in January. His fellow Democrats used narrow majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate to pass a large measure of what Biden originally proposed without Republican support.

The Democratic president said his administration would reach two important goals over the next 10 days: 100 million coronavirus shots in people's arms and 100 million checks in people's pockets or bank accounts.

"Shots in arms and money in pockets. That's important. The American Rescue Plan is already doing what it was designed to do: make a difference in people's everyday lives. And we're just getting started," Biden added.

The White House has said it does not believe former President Barack Obama's administration, in which Biden served as vice president, did enough to promote its more than $800 billion 2009 economic rescue program. Democrats went on to lose control of the House to Republicans the next year.

Taking their case directly to the people, Harris traveled to Las Vegas on Monday, while Biden goes to Pennsylvania on Tuesday and Atlanta on Friday. He will also do an interview on Wednesday on ABC's "Good Morning America" program.

"We want to avoid a situation where folks are unaware of what they're entitled to and then this moment passes and they don't get the full relief," the vice president told reporters in Las Vegas.

POPULAR SUPPORT

Democrats regard the bill as good policy and good politics. Opinion polls show majorities supporting efforts to shore up the coronavirus vaccination campaign, prepare schools to reopen and ease poverty after a year-long pandemic that has killed more than 535,000 Americans and put millions of people out of work.

Republicans, who broadly supported coronavirus relief early in the crisis when Republican Donald Trump was president, have called the latest measure an overpriced collection of pet projects unrelated to the pandemic.

Harris said she visited Nevada because of the disproportionate impact the pandemic has had on the state's hospitality industry. Speaking with workers and labor unions about the legislation's benefits, she urged people to file their taxes so they can receive such relief faster.

She will visit Colorado on Tuesday. Both there and in Nevada, Democrats will be defending U.S. Senate seats in elections next year that could be critical in helping the party maintain narrow control of that chamber.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington and Nandita Bose in Las Vegas; additional reporting by Steve Holland and Jeff Mason; Editing by Heather Timmons and Peter Cooney)

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-03-16

 

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[Surelynot]

Well, for once I hope the Republicans are correct when they said all this will do is push up the price/value of Bitcoin.

[John Drake]

I congratulate the president on getting the money out as fast as possible. I do wish it had been $2000 instead of $1400. But maybe that can come later. Biden did well, here. 

[billd766]

1 hour ago, Surelynot said:

Well, for once I hope the Republicans are correct when they said all this will do is push up the price/value of Bitcoin.

I or one, hope that they are wrong. I truly hope that Biden has it right, as help appears to be going to the people who deserve it the most.

For the last 4 years the Republicans have been supporting the worst president the US has ever had with 2 impeachments against him, he was/is a congenital liar, he still thinks that he is POTUS and that the presidential election was stolen from him despite numerous recounts and frivolous court cases. He spent far far more time than Obama on the golf courses, all paid for by the US taxpayers.

He promised a lot to his supporters but actually did very little worth mentioning.

In Joe Biden you have a POTUS who actually DOES things rather than tweet about what he is planning to do.

There are Republicans and even posters on TVF who are complaining that he doesn't hold press conferences. What he does do is issue a daily press briefing.

He has worked extremely hard since he became POTUS undoing what Trump managed to screw up during his 4 years in power. In addition he has been deeply involved in trying to sort out the Covid mess that he was dumped with.

More power to Biden and his team on a great start to his presidency.

[Surelynot]

2 hours ago, billd766 said:

I or one, hope that they are wrong. I truly hope that Biden has it right, as help appears to be going to the people who deserve it the most.

For the last 4 years the Republicans have been supporting the worst president the US has ever had with 2 impeachments against him, he was/is a congenital liar, he still thinks that he is POTUS and that the presidential election was stolen from him despite numerous recounts and frivolous court cases. He spent far far more time than Obama on the golf courses, all paid for by the US taxpayers.

He promised a lot to his supporters but actually did very little worth mentioning.

In Joe Biden you have a POTUS who actually DOES things rather than tweet about what he is planning to do.

There are Republicans and even posters on TVF who are complaining that he doesn't hold press conferences. What he does do is issue a daily press briefing.

He has worked extremely hard since he became POTUS undoing what Trump managed to screw up during his 4 years in power. In addition he has been deeply involved in trying to sort out the Covid mess that he was dumped with.

More power to Biden and his team on a great start to his presidency.

Absolutely......I was being very tongue in cheek as am holding quite a lot (for me that is) in cryptos....555

Edited March 16, 2021 by Surelynot

[onthedarkside]

A trolling post and reply have been removed.

 

[cycolista]

Just got my stimulus check (bank transfer) today.  One for me and one for my son. ????

[Tug]

How refreshing to have a president (and his TEAM) working for the working folk of America and not grifting on behalf of the 1%ers like trump one that governs with science fact and consensus (not like trump)a president who honors the oath of office and protects the American people not like trump who is largely responsible for the deaths of 500,000+Americans get after it Joe let folks know what our government is doing for us under your governance!!

[yankee99]

This free money is ridiculous my family of myself and 2 children received right at $13,000 since the 1st stimulus. 

 

If he gives that to me every year im voting democrat

[billd766]

16 minutes ago, yankee99 said:

This free money is ridiculous my family of myself and 2 children received right at $13,000 since the 1st stimulus. 

 

If he gives that to me every year im voting democrat

You could always send it back, or perhaps you could find somebody near to where you live who could really make use of it.

[Scott]

Off-topic post reported and removed.  

 

[yankee99]

8 hours ago, billd766 said:

You could always send it back, or perhaps you could find somebody near to where you live who could really make use of it.

Nope on joining the free money train party. 

[bendejo]

stimulus tour

Sounds like a one-week holiday in Thailand

 

[mtls2005]

2 hours ago, yankee99 said:

Nope on joining the free money train party. 

 

[impulse]

On 3/16/2021 at 9:32 AM, billd766 said:

You could always send it back, or perhaps you could find somebody near to where you live who could really make use of it.

 Better yet, put it in escrow against the $6,000+ every man, woman and child in the USA went deeper into debt to get that $1,400.  It may come in handy against your future tax bills.  Won't come close to covering your brand new debt, but I guess it's better than nuthin'.

“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury. After that, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits with the result the democracy collapses because of the loose fiscal policy ensuing, always to be followed by a dictatorship, then a monarchy."

Edited March 17, 2021 by impulse

[placeholder]

Just now, impulse said:

 Better yet, put it in escrow against the $6,300 every man, woman and child in the USA went deeper into debt to get that $1,400.  It may come in handy against your future tax bills.  Won't come close to covering your brand new debt, but I guess it's better than nuthin'.

“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury. After that, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits with the result the democracy collapses because of the loose fiscal policy ensuing, always to be followed by a dictatorship, then a monarchy."

Good News!.

Biden Eyes First Major Tax Hike Since 1993 in Next Economic Plan

 

President Joe Biden is planning the first major federal tax hike since 1993 to help pay for the long-term economic program designed as a follow-up to his pandemic-relief bill, according to people familiar with the matter.

Unlike the $1.9 trillion Covid-19 stimulus act, the next initiative, which is expected to be even bigger, won’t rely just on government debt as a funding source. While it’s been increasingly clear that tax hikes will be a component -- Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said at least part of the next bill will have to be paid for, and pointed to higher rates -- key advisers are now making preparations for a package of measures that could include an increase in both the corporate tax rate and the individual rate for high earners.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-15/biden-eyes-first-major-tax-hike-since-1993-in-next-economic-plan