Discontent as US stimulus stalls amid impeachment trial

As the nation’s media and political elite are consumed by the impeachment trial of ex-president Donald Trump, talks on a desperately-needed and long-delayed major economic stimulus package have been forced on hold.

According to Press TV, after an economically-devastating pandemic year Main Street has been clamouring for economic aid - President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion relief bill has a huge 75% public approval rating.

But as Democrats issue more of the exact details, fissures are mounting between their left and right factions. Republicans who want to reduce the stimulus package are being accused of defying public opinion. 

Discontent is also rising as Biden’s proposal backtracks, pulls his support or reduces a host of economic promises, ending Trump’s signature tax cuts for the rich, student debt relief, the amount of and length of unemployment payments, the total amount of household stimulus checks and all while many say Main Street needed all of that and more in the world’s richest country. 

There is mounting backlash over Biden’s plan to drop a raising of the minimum wage from $7 to $15 per hour. Such a move wouldn’t just reverse decades of soaring wage inequality, it would also spur desperately-needed economic growth amid the pandemic recession. 

The federal minimum wage has not been lifted in over a decade, further impoverishing the nation’s working poor and lower classes. 

The gap between campaign promises and what looks like will actually be delivered may explain why a top poll recently showed that 70% of the nation is dissatisfied with, “the way things are going in the nation today”.

Mid-March is the earliest date the 3rd stimulus is likely to be passed. Reduced unemployment benefits from the modest - and also last-minute - 2nd stimulus package will expire by April. 

ME