The $2.3 trillion spending bill in the United States that combines a $900 billion in Covid relief measures with a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill for the 2021 federal fiscal year has attracted severe criticism from certain quarters. The Covid relief bill has been passed by the US House and the Senate and awaits the president’s signature to be signed into law.
The bill provides $600 to Most Americans and their children. In addition, an enhanced $300 per week has been put in place for the unemployed till March. An additional $284 billion has been provided for the Paycheck Protection Program which provides forgivable loans to small businesses.
While the $600 provision has been criticized by many for being too less an amount, the allocations made in regular government spending has caused major outrage. The 5,593 page bill contains millions in dollars in funding to numerous countries as foreign aid.
Pakistan is set to receive up to $15 million for “democracy programs” and $10 million for “gender programs” and Sri Lanka will receive up to $15 million “for the refurbishing of a high endurance cutter,” a type of patrol boat.
The massive allocations in foreign aid has not gone down well with certain sections as they consider it to be a luxury spending at a time when citizens of the United States of America are enduring enormous hardships. Elected Representatives from the Republican Party have made staunch criticism of the Bill even though it received bipartisan support. Lauren Boebert, Congresswoman-elect from Colorado, said Congress was “broken”.
https://twitter.com/laurenboebert/status/1341265505391415296?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwThomas Massive, Congressman from Kentucky, was extremely unhappy with the Bill as well.
https://twitter.com/RepThomasMassie/status/1341190322748076032?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwAnthony Kern, Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives, criticized the Bill as well.
https://twitter.com/anthonykernAZ/status/1341221640135315457?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwScott Taylor, former US Congressman from the Republican Party, was not too happy with the bill either.
https://twitter.com/Scotttaylorva/status/1341177187383259141?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwThe Covid relief bill has also attracted criticism from political observers.
https://twitter.com/TimRunsHisMouth/status/1341166410333085698?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/mpg25mary/status/1341126340662022144?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwSupporters of Donald Trump are also calling upon the US President to veto the bill.
https://twitter.com/SherryMAGA/status/1341201777673334784?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwRepublicans have also faced intense criticism from supporters for supporting the bill in the House or the Senate. Despite such criticism, the bill is likely to be signed by Donald Trump.