Not Just COVID Relief: Weird Things Going in the Stimulus Bill
Illegal streaming will be a felony. Because that’s what Americans really needed.
The stimulus bill is a joke.
Congress passed a $1.4 trillion government-spending measure on Monday that includes $900 billion in COVID relief. The 5,593-page bill will provide $600 stimulus checks for qualifying families and individuals.
Besides the $600 check being called “a slap in the face” to Americans and small-business owners, the bill is also packed with many weird, unrelated measures.
Journalist Alan MacLeod was one of the first to point this out:
- The words “Weapon” and “Munition” appear 46 times
- The word “Aircraft” appears 208 times
- The word “Forbearance” appears less than 12 times.
- The word “Healthcare” only 25 times
Here’s what congress actually put in your relief instead.
1. $6.5 Billion in New Navy Weapons And Airforce Missles
This comes two weeks after the senate approved the military for a $740 billion defense bill. Trump just vetoed the defense bill yesterday, which means that money could be used for additional COVID relief.
The Space Force also received $2 billion+ in the COVID relief bill.
2. $500 Million for Israel
Additionally, we’re giving more than $1 billion in total to these countries:
- Burma $134.9 million
- Cambodia $85.5 million
- Egypt $250 million
- Jordan $250 million
- Lebanon $250 million
- Nepal $130 million
- Ukraine $453 million
Foreign aid is great. But when you’ve only invested $600 each in Americans, then it’s questionable.
3. Makes Illegal Streaming a Felony
Illegal streaming may soon have a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
While the entertainment industry was hit hard by the pandemic, many think this wasn’t the time to add something like this to a “COVID” relief bill.
4. Tax Deductions for “Three-martini lunches”
This is supposed to incentivize more rich people to go dine out and help the restaurant industry. But restaurant owners say it won’t even do that.
“People are afraid to dine out, go to an office or eat inside, making these kinds of deductions useless until there is more demand,” Camilla Marcus, a founding member of the Independent Restaurant Coalition and the owner of west(tilde)bourne, a New York City restaurant that closed during the pandemic told the Associated Press.
“Restaurants are fighting for our survival and what we need is help paying our bills now so we can put people to work tomorrow.”
5. The Reincarnation of The Dalal Lama
Even the Dalal Lama made it into the bill.
It reads:
“interference by the Government of the People’s Republic of China or any other government in the process of recognizing a successor or reincarnation of the 14th Dalai Lama and any future Dalai Lamas would represent a clear abuse of the right to religious freedom of Tibetan Buddhists and the Tibetan people.”
Again, maybe not the best time to put this in.
$2000 May Be Coming Your Way
Today CNBC published an article that House Democrats will attempt to pass $2,000 direct payments for Americans. This comes after President Trump threatened to oppose the bill earlier this week.
It’s unclear who would be eligible in the new plan, but Trump may have just made you $1400 richer in a bill that’s rife with issues.