TOO MUCH PORK FOR YOU?
How You Can Get the $2,000 Stimulus Check President Trump Asked Congress to Approve
You see, folks, the fight is not over yet. Let’s force Congress to give us the other $1,400. In fact, the House of Representatives has already approved it as a stand-alone bill.
We’ll get pennies compared to Egypt and some other foreign countries.
You could get a direct deposit within a couple of weeks, now that the POTUS has signed the legislation. However, checks will take much longer.
It’s good news that we will get a $600 stimulus check, $1,200 for joint filers, and $600 per additional child under 17-years-old, to help with some of the bills, at least the small ones, am I right? Although, that amount starts to taper off for those who earned more than $75,000. But I feel safe in saying we all need a whole lot more than that.
It’s time we put into action what the President of the United States (POTUS) started. Many ask why he didn’t do something sooner. It’s too late for that. That line of thinking will not get us any closer to that $2,000.
However, you can go back and check the news and tweets, where you will see the POTUS was asking for that for weeks leading up to the actual Congressional bill getting passed.
Now, don’t get me wrong; I am not a Trump supporter. But what’s right is right; if you’re going to diss him when he mis-spells coffee, give him credit when he’s right.
Enough of that, let’s get to this essay’s point, which is a call-to-action (CTA) for the American people. We must make Congress act. You might be thinking, “Oh there’s no use, they are going to do whatever they want anyway.”
But that’s where you’re wrong. Congress works for us. Yes, of course, they take money from corporations and other countries to do their bidding; otherwise, there wouldn’t be billions of American taxpayer dollars going to other countries or a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), but there is! The Senate, where the GOP holds a narrow majority, can be forced to act.
Read more about the PPP later in this article. It could be vital to keep your small business alive and functioning. Yet, many are abusing and mis-using it!
However, even though the elections are only just past, we vote! Congress knows this, and if they want to keep their six-figure income and the ability to get millions more from corporations and foreign entities, they better do as their employers want.
Let’s Demand Congress Take Action
The Action Network organization started this petition, but they cannot do it alone, nor should they. We, the people, need to act. We, the voters, must tell Congress to give us the $2,000. Tell them together in one voice, “Immediately pass legislation providing $2,000 stimulus checks.”
Please come back to this page after taking action on this petition.
I will give you more information that you need to know about this “stimulus” package Congress approved and the POTUS signed.
What Kind of Secret “Pork” Is in the Stimulus Act?
Hours after Congress approved the $900 billion stimulus, the POTUS said of the legislation, “It really is a disgrace.,” and rightfully so. According to Forbes, within that package are “tens of billions of dollars in pork spending.” Much of which is headed overseas!
This bill, originally designed to provide American taxpayers with much-needed relief during a worldwide pandemic, is 5,593 pages long.
According to KATV, The POTUS pointed out this supposed “COVID Relief Bill,” contains:
“…$85.5 million for assistance to Cambodia, $134 million to Burma, $1.3 billion for Egypt and the Egyptian military, which will go out and buy almost exclusively Russian military equipment. $25 million for democracy and gender programs in Pakistan, $505 million to Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. $40 million for the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, which is not even open for business. $1 billion for the Smithsonian and an additional $154 million for the National Gallery of Art. Likewise, these facilities are essentially not open.”
Forbes admits this is not the type of stimulus Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy would have approved for the American taxpayers. However, they point out that the stimulus package allows for some disbursement of funds and excellent provisions through the PPP for small businesses, independent contractors, and freelancers.
“It helps craft brewers, distilleries and wineries by keeping them from getting hit with big tax increases at year’s end. It helps beleaguered restaurants by permitting businesses to deduct meals. Certain industries, such as airlines, get direct grants to stay aloft.”
Although some say it is not enough, the stimulus package sets aside $284 billion for payroll and cost of business expenses, such as electric bills, rent, and other necessities.
Greedy manipulators gobbled up the money set aside for those purposes in the CARES Act months ago. According to a posting on the Taft Law website,
“On April 16, 2020, the Small Business Administration (SBA) exhausted its $349 billion appropriations of funds under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) — Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), as well as additional funds allocated for the SBA COVID–19 Disaster loan program.”
Without much oversight, the former PPP in the CARES Act was used by some to finance frivolous and unnecessary items, which had nothing to do with maintaining their business.
According to Fox Business News, Dr. Phil and his son’s film and production company received millions, while his son bought a new $10 million home. Although these loans are, in many cases, forgivable, you must prove where you spent the money. A new home would probably not qualify.
Suddenly, in July, they discovered another $132 billion that was not originally gobbled up by the nearly 700,000 applicants. But that only lasted a few days. Those who have already applied since that date should check to see if they need to re-apply.
The thing to keep in mind is if you qualify and you need additional money to keep paying your employees and maintain your business, that is what this money is intended for, not new homes and expensive sports cars.
How the Program Applies to Writers, Authors, & Beer Crafters
According to CNN, the PPP forgivable loans will assist more minority-owned businesses ($12 billion has been set aside for that purpose) and even some non-profits.
“The second loans will be limited to those with fewer than 300 employees that have seen drops of at least 25% of their revenue during the first, second, or third quarter of 2020. It also reduces the amount a borrower can receive from $10 million to $2 million, gives businesses more flexibility on how they spend the money and simplifies the forgiveness process for loans under $150,000.
What PPP Means for You
This article provides crucial information that you should pass onto freelancing friends and your self-employed associates. However, prior to diving too far into it, check these two requirements of eligibility.
- You must have been self-employed or a freelancer on or before 15 February 2020.
2. You must have a primary residency in one of the United States or territories.
You might also wonder what you need to do to prove that. Some other elements you might be wondering about are, “How much can I get?” “What do I need to use it for in order for it to be forgivable?” and, “What conditions might require me to pay it back?”
When you filed your IRS Form 1040 Schedule C for 2019 taxes, you established your income, and your profits or losses. Property tax and rent receipts can prove residency.
The primary use of the PPP loan is payroll, including yours or your “owner compensation replacement.” Also, your US-based employees, business rent or a portion of the home or garage you use to house your home office, or mortgage interest payments (You cannot use any advanced payments or principal you pay. These amounts must have been noted on your 2019 Schedule C unless you started your business after filing your 2019 taxes.
A part of what you made in 2018 can be replaced by your PPP loan. Plus, the portion of what you paid your employees. However, if the amount of profit from your Schedule C was $0 or you lost money, you are not eligible.
You can only use an amount between $1 and $100,000 to determine your average monthly income. You must divide the above amount by 12, and then, multiply 2.5.
The SBA also states, “Add the outstanding amount of any Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) made between January 31, 2020, and April 3, 2020, that you seek to refinance, less the amount of any advance under an EIDL COVID-19 loan (because it does not have to be repaid).”
Although providing the Schedule C, receipts, bank statements, and records might not be required from your bank to get the PPP loan, you must keep those available in case they are needed later.
For more information about the PPP loan program, read my original, more in-depth article. You could be eligible.
Stephen Dalton is a retired US Army First Sergeant with a degree in journalism from the University of Maryland and a Certified US English Chicago Manual of Style Editor. Top Writer in Fiction, Short Story, NFL, VR, Design, & Creativity. Editor of Pop Off, Top Dalton’s Blog, 100WordStory, B.O.S.S., and SportsShorts100WordsOnly
You can see his portfolio here. Email [email protected]