Bernie Sanders Proposal for $2 Trillion Coronavirus Emergency Plan Includes $2,000 Direct Monthly

[Uncle Joe]

Payments to Every American

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders put forth a far-reaching plan Tuesday night that calls for at least $2 trillion in emergency funding—including for free healthcare and direct cash payments of $2,000 per month to every American—as a way to "mobilize on a scale not seen since the New Deal and World War II to prevent deaths, job losses, and economic ruin" caused by the deadly and growing threat of the coronavirus outbreak now sweeping the United States and much of the world.

"In terms of potential deaths and the impact on our economy, the crisis we face from coronavirus is on the scale of a major war, and we must act accordingly," Sanders said in Tuesday night address. "We must begin thinking on a scale comparable to the threat, and make sure that we are protecting working people, low-income people, and the most vulnerable communities, not just giant corporations and Wall Street."

The new plan—which Sanders set out in a live-streamed address just before polls closed in the primary voting states of Illinois, Florida, and Arizona—gives new policy details to his repeated call that the response to the coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, be adequately robust and specifically targeted to help those who need it most and done in a way that centers both the short-term and long-term health of the nation's people and its economy.

While former Vice President Joe Biden was declared the winner in each of Tuesday's primary contests—adding to his already substantial delegate lead—the release of the new plan by Sanders made it clear that the Vermont senator still believes he has a role to play and a vision to share with the nation even as his prospects for winning the Democratic nomination continue to diminish.

(snip)


https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/18/bernie-sanders-proposal-2-trillion-coronavirus-emergency-plan-includes-2000-direct

[MineralMan]

1. The first time this was posted today, I responded with

a statement that Bernie Sanders was once again proposing something that could not be passed in Congress. That remains true. His current proposal will not even get serious consideration. Instead, something will be passed that sends a couple of checks to everyone. That will pass, because it is not a continuing thing that would bankrupt the country.

It will still put us a Trillion dollars more in debt, but Congress will pass it, because both Democrats and Republicans think it will help in some way.

This is why Bernie Sanders will not be President. His proposals are too far out of the realm of what is possible, and he won't compromise from his position. That's just not how things work in a representative republic like we have here.

So, he's doing the same thing he always does, and it won't work any better this time than the last time he proposed something that could not be enacted by Congress.

That's what I said this morning when someone else posted what you just posted.

Here's the previous OP from this morning:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287676540

[Uncle Joe]

2. and your point being?

[MineralMan]

4. My point was in my reply.

Bernie Sanders proposes impossible things. That is why he accomplishes nothing. Did you not read my reply to you?

[Gothmog]

42. According Harry Reid sanders has no chance of getting his agenda adopted

Link to tweet

But Reid, who served as a Democrat in the U.S. Senate for 30 years, including as majority leader for eight years, said it didn't matter which candidate comes out in support of Sanders' signature health care plan: "I’m against it."

"It’s impractical ... There’s not a chance in hell it would pass," he told ABC News Political Director Rick Klein, instead advocating for strengthening the Affordable Care Act -- or Obamacare -- and looking to pass a public option.

There are not enough Democratic votes to get this concept passed in the real world
Even Warren has pointed out that sanders has no accomplishments

Link to tweet

[George II]

23. More important, what is Sanders' point? Should he not be on the floor of the Senate proposing....

...this? THAT is where it may or may not be enacted. It won't happen until it's presented as a bill IN THE SENATE, and it gets a parallel bill in the House to be acted upon.

People watching his (now 2-day old) live stream are not in a position to present it in the Senate or vote on it.

[dawg day]

28. That's a good point.

Sanders is in the Senate. He can write a bill. Of course, it won't get to the floor, but it will have more effect then than just saying this.

[Yavin4]

13. Spending money in a time of a crisis like this one is exactly what the govt. should do.

You are underestimating the severe impact that this crisis is having, and will continue to have, on our economy and our healthcare systems.

I didn't support Sanders for president, but he's 100% correct on this. Money needs to get to the people. Otherwise, we will have cascading defaults which will make things even worse. When masses of people cannot pay their mortgages, that makes the value of your house decline with them.

As for "bankrupt the country", well, that's pure nonsense. The government can, and should, borrow and spend as much as possible to get us out of this because only the government will be in the position to do so. Worrying about the budget is both politically and economically dumb and negligent. History has shown that frugality and austerity in a time of crisis like this breeds authoritarians.

[MineralMan]

18. And money will be spent, without any doubt.

Proposals are already under consideration that will spend $1 Trillion. Senators Sanders proposal will not be considered. As an Independent iconoclast, his major proposals are rarely considered by the Senate. If they were, they would die in committee.

I am not arguing against the proposal itself, but against the likelihood that it will receive any consideration by Congress. If it is not considered, and never would be considered, why make the proposal in the first place?

As I said, there is already a proposal under consideration. It is not Senator Sanders' proposal, however. It is, rather, a bipartisan proposal that is very likely to be enacted. Today, actual action is needed, rather than quixotic proposals.

[TreasonousBastard]

39. Hardly any of Sanders' proposals even get to committee...

It's tough for anyone to get a law considered, but Sanders seems to set records for prospective legislation to be abandoned before committee.

He really should just STFU and learn how to pass a bill.

Like Amy Klobucher learned. And Liz Warren. And Joe Biden.

[NCProgressive]

3. Again, Bernie takes credit for a plan

proposed by many Democrats first and then makes it mega-unicorn which will not pass.

[George II]

26. Much of what he proposed in his early morning email to everyone has already been enacted....

....by individual states - no utility shutoffs, mortgage and rent suspension, free virus testing, increased availability of hospital beds, the Defense Production Act, mobilization of the National Guard, expanded unemployment insurance, etc.

They're presented as "revolutionary" ideas, they're nothing now - they're already in effect in New York and a number of other states.

[NCProgressive]

36. A lot of them were already used after 9/11 too

[The Magistrate]

5. How Many Co-Sponsors, Sir?

How many votes? How many Republican Senators have signed on? Any idea when McConnell will bring it to the floor for a vote?

Allow me a moment in the vernacular, Sir.

I do not give a flying fuck what Sanders proposes.

I do not give a damn about Sanders' righteous postures.

Let me know when the self-righteous gas-bag has the motherfucking votes!

[MineralMan]

19. May I remark on how much I appreciate the moderation of your language, Sir?

[The Magistrate]

22. Thank You, Sir --- For A Moment I Thought I'd Have To Bite My Tongue

"Every normal man must sometimes be tempted to hoist the black flag, spit on his hands, and set to cutting throats."

[ismnotwasm]

34. Soooo glad you are back....

[Scurrilous]

40. Go Magistrate Sir.

[Gothmog]

41. sanders has no significant legislative accomplishments in the real world for a reason

I admit that I never considered sanders to be a serious candidate and never understood sanders appeal. sanders has no significant legislative accomplishments in his time in Congress in large part because sanders never bothered to attempt to get his fellow members of congress to support his programs. In the real world, it takes hard work and getting along with people to get major legislation passed. I was not surprised with sanders admitted that he does not try to get along with his fellow members of congress and that he was not good at pleasantries

Link to tweet

I agree with the NYT description of their decision not to endorse sanders in that sanders is too inflexible and that he is not able to compromise. Compromise is key to getting legislation adopted in the real world

Link to tweet

I admit that i do not understand sanders magical voter revolution that sanders claims will enable him to get his agenda adopted. I do not believe in magic and I have seen no evidence that sanders has a magical voter revolution.

Here is on one more question

Link to tweet

As noted by the Magistrate, merely announcing a proposal is meaningless in the real world One needs votes to get a major piece of legislation adopted and sanders has not shown that he can do this in the real world

[betsuni]

43. ...

[NurseJackie]

46. Thank you.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

6. Bernie showing once again why he should be President.

Bernie/Elizabeth 2020!!
They're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the Revolution!!

[Uncle Joe]

7. Amen InAbLuEsTaTe!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

9. You know it Uncle Joe... so does the other Uncle Joe. With the viral epidemic...

this is no time to "give up the ghost." Lots can happen between now and the convention, which, BTW, should prolly be postponed.


Bernie/Elizabeth 2020!!
They're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the Revolution!!

[Uncle Joe]

16. We do live in interesting times,

kind of a combo 1918 Spanish Flu, 1930s Great Depression era going here under the current trajectory and that's before climate change is added to the mix.

I believe you may have a good argument for postponing the convention, the next few weeks/months will be extremely telling.

[ehrnst]

48. Counting on something?

[The Magistrate]

8. Do You Imagine Presidents Rule By Decree, Sir?

Do you imagine no more is needed than Sanders waving a finger with a mild '...make it so...' for a thing to occur?

[LanternWaste]

11. Bernie showing once again why he will not be President.

[TexasTowelie]

17. .

[George II]

29. No he's not - he's once again taking ideas and proposals that OTHERS have already presented....

....and acting like they're his own.

[Yavin4]

10. Bernie is on the right path here. Put your personal feelings to the side.

We are now in a major economic and health care disruption. Too many of us cannot comprehend how bad things are going to get for our healthcare systems and our economy. This is no small thing. This is a major crisis of epic proportions and needs to be addresed in the most aggressive manor.

[Green Line]

12. Isn't Maxine Waters proposing something similar?

[Sloumeau]

14. This is exactly what I would expect from Senator Sanders.

A big spending package that seems unlikely to get passed has "Bernie" written all over it.

[ucrdem]

15. Schumer talked about virus relief this morning on NPR and wasn't keen on direct payouts

He didn't rule out the idea but said a better approach would be to expand unemployment and make it easier and faster to get. That way people who need help now, restaurant workers for example, can get relief until their jobs come back. Sanders' proposal didn't come up.

Long and short: this seems more like a random one-off campaign promise rather than actual legislation.

[Green Line]

24. What happens to self employed and independent contractors who can't work?

We're not eligible to collect. He needs to rethink this.

[ucrdem]

30. Funny you ask. He mentioned those.

He said unemployment currently is overly restrictive and excluded gig workers for example, and Dems want to expand it dramatically. Here is the clip:

NPR's Rachel Martin talks to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer about federal aid to address the coronavirus' economic impact. The Senate is working on another measure that could total $1 trillion.

https://www.npr.org/2020/03/19/818228010/washington-lawmakers-try-to-sort-out-coronavirus-economics

There doesn't seem to be a transcript unfortunately.

[brooklynite]

20. If Bernie is the "leader" his fans claim him to be, he'll able to get this passed, right?

[Uncle Joe]

21. Bernie is a good leader because he's fighting for it in the first place.

[brooklynite]

32. LEADER (Noun): "a person who has commanding authority or influence"

Happy if you want to call him a "fighter"; I'm not seeing leadership.

[George II]

33. A number of Senators and Representatives are "fighting for it", but they're doing something...

...other than talking about it.

While most of our Senators have been in Washington, yesterday was the first day since mid-January that Sanders has been in the Senate Chamber since January. America needs less talking, more doing.

[Just_Vote_Dem]

38. Leaders get things done, not just fight for them n/t

[Turin_C3PO]

25. I'm not against his proposal.

Something must be done to help the millions of workers who won’t have an income in the next few months. I also like Maxine Water’s proposal.

[William769]

27. ...

[MineralMan]

37. Unicorns AND Rainbows?

Oh. My!

[VMA131Marine]

31. Bernie is on exactly the right track here

We are looking at catastrophic damage to the economy, because this is not going to be over in 2 weeks - look at Italy if you want proof of that. The danger is in Congress doing too little because of the fear of increasing the deficit, not of them doing too much. We’re essentially asking the Treasury to print money, it will be debt in name only. Will that be inflationary? Sure, that’s what is needed, because if you look at what happened in the Great Depression there was sustained negative inflation (deflation) for years. We do not want to get into a deflationary trap so I say run the presses and print the money.

[BlueIdaho]

35. How long has he been a Senator?

Because that’s where the battle is. In the Senate. Standing on a podium and pontificating won’t get the job done. If he wants to show everyone how to bring people together - for this relief package, or M4A, or free college, or anything else - he could demonstrate that skill right now in the Senate.

Problem is - he’s always been a fringe figure rejecting the hard work of making legislation happen through compromise. As a result he has a big fat zero for government accomplishments. Just signing onto someone else’s bill is not leadership. It’s time for Bernie to suit up, show up, or shut up.

[BidenBacker]

44. $2000 a month is not enough

If Bernie gives us all $3000 a month I might vote for him.

I may be easy but I ain't cheap.

[tandem5]

45. Do I hear 2100?

[NurseJackie]

47. Where's the bill? Where are the votes?

This is pure fantasy.