Is it time for a fourth coronavirus aid package? Here’s what NC’s representatives say.
Congress recently passed a $2 trillion coronavirus aid package, known as the CARES Act, the third emergency bill moved by lawmakers in recent weeks to deal with the health and economic impacts of the virus on a reeling nation. It passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.
Already there is talk of a fourth “phase” of coronavirus aid, but there are some partisan differences emerging in what should be considered. The U.S. House and Senate are not expected back in Washington for weeks, but lawmakers have been presenting issues they’d like to see in the next package and, now, an interim package this week.
President Donald Trump said he would request an additional $250 billion in forgivable loans for small businesses to maintain their payrolls, an expansion of the program included in the CARES Act. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell plans to pass it Thursday without requiring members to be present. Trump has also touted a potential payroll tax cut.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, both Democrats, released their list of priorities Wednesday morning for the interim package, which include $100 billion for hospitals, $150 billion for state and local governments and an increase in food benefits.
The News & Observer, Charlotte Observer and Herald-Sun sent all 14 current members of the North Carolina delegation the same questions related to coronavirus and Congress.
The 11th district, previously represented by current White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, does not have a member of Congress.
All responses received are included below.
Do you believe a fourth phase of aid is necessary right now?
Rep. Ted Budd, Republican from Advance: “We just passed the largest economic aid package in American history. We should analyze how well phase three is working before we leap to more deficit spending in phase four.”
Rep. George Holding, Republican from Raleigh: “Congress just passed three unprecedented aid packages aimed at not only stopping the spread of the coronavirus, but also to provide direct financial assistance to Americans. Any additional relief should build on that – now isn’t the time to play politics.”
Rep. Mark Walker, Republican from Greensboro: “As the situation is rapidly evolving, we will keep monitoring unemployment, the state of the economy, and any additional ways to assist our healthcare workers on the front lines. However, nothing should be considered until all of Congress is back in Washington. That way, you don’t have one party in one chamber making legislation they unilaterally deem urgent.”
Rep. Alma Adams, Democrat from Charlotte: “Absolutely. My office continues to get calls every day from North Carolinians who are out of work, who have never applied for federal benefits before but need help now. It is clear that the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic will persist long after we’re able to leave our homes.”
Rep. David Price, Democrat from Chapel Hill: “Yes, I believe Congress should develop a fourth legislative package in the coming days. The first three bills were focused on our public health response and emergency relief efforts for families and businesses. Weekly unemployment reports and other indicators show that unmet needs continue to grow at an alarming rate every day and our economy is facing the most severe challenges since the Great Depression.”
Rep. Richard Hudson, Republican from Concord: “Our focus at this time should be implementing the $2 trillion package we just passed before we spend any more of our grandkids’ money. Once we have implemented the package and see where the remaining needs are, we should address those concerns through targeted legislation that does not allow Nancy Pelosi to insert unrelated provisions like she tried to do in the CARES Act.”
Rep. Greg Murphy, Republican from Greenville: “Congress just passed the largest spending bill in American history. Two trillion dollars. I believe that was the right thing to do and I voted for it when it passed by voice. Americans are losing their jobs and small businesses are shutting down through no fault of their own. Unfortunately the process was slowed down because some saw this as an opportunity to push an agenda and wanted things in the bill that had nothing to do with this crisis. Is there more work to be done? Surely. Yet I feel it more prudent to see what effect Phase III has had before we dive into more legislation. There may be things we need to fine tune or adjust from Phase III, which is why we need to let it play out for now. Am I open to a fourth phase? Certainly. But the need for another measure will be contingent on either or both of these two variables: the effectiveness of the first three phases and the amount of time the crisis persists. Right now we have no way to predict what the situation on the ground will be in a month or two, so in my view, I don’t think it’s productive to deal with hypotheticals.”
What is one thing that absolutely should be included in a fourth phase?
Walker: “These packages should solely focus on our response to the coronavirus outbreak. Our families and small business owners in North Carolina need solid relief — not funding increases for the Kennedy Center.”
Budd: “There are several ideas like a payroll tax holiday that could be considered.”
Adams: “I am focused on the parts of our economy that are too small to fail — small businesses, nonprofits, families, and independent contractors. If we’re going to grow the deficit more in 2020 than any year in our country’s history, our working families should have something to show for it. We have to put more money in their pockets and reduce household debt in a meaningful way.”
Price: “We should absolutely provide additional resources to small businesses, nonprofits, our health care system, and programs that provide support for already vulnerable populations, including the homeless and those suffering from housing instability. It’s in everyone’s interest to ensure people have a safe place to shelter in place. I also believe we need to fix the direct payments from the third package to include dependents up to age 24 (such as college students) as well as disabled adult children who remain dependents. Finally, I’d like to see additional assistance to states and localities including smaller cities and towns, which were excluded from direct assistance in the CARES Act.”
Murphy: “If a fourth phase is necessary, I’d like to see funding for broadband internet in rural areas. With schools closed throughout the state and people working from home, North Carolina families in rural areas need internet now more than ever, particularly in my district. I believe there was funding for broadband in the state’s budget this year but, since the governor vetoed the budget, these areas are still without the internet access that they desperately need.”
What is one thing that absolutely should not be included in a fourth phase?
Murphy: “Programs unrelated to stopping the spread of COVID-19, helping our health care workers or providing financial support for working class Americans should not be included. That means we should continue to exclude things that were on Speaker Pelosi’s liberal wish list she attempted to sneak into Phase III. Items like Green New Deal initiatives, support for union bosses and outlawing voter ID requirements had nothing to do with the crisis and have no place in this particular legislative package.”
Price: “There has been some discussion of a massive payroll tax cut, but it’s clear from our post-2008 recovery that most working people did not receive a noticeable benefit. I think direct payments as initially conceived in the CARES Act — with appropriate income limits and better eligibility criteria — represent a much more potent way to help the people who need it most and ensure this money gets injected back into the economy.”
Adams: “We shouldn’t bail out any companies that aren’t playing by the rules. If a corporation isn’t paying US taxes and is using another country as a tax haven, or if a company is using creative accounting so that they avoid tax liability, I don’t think we are under any obligation there. Giving the signal that we will bail you out even if you break all the rules is the definition of moral hazard.”
Budd: “We shouldn’t include anything in an emergency bill that doesn’t directly deal with the emergency.”
President Trump called for a $2T infrastructure package earlier as the fourth phase, citing record-low interest rates. Would you support that?
Murphy: “I’m certainly open to a fourth phase depending on how long the outbreak persists and how effective the first three phases turn out to be. Once the pandemic surge is over, we need to get America back to work. We had the greatest economy in the world prior to the crisis and hopefully those industries will quickly recovery. Yet in the meanwhile I believe we ought to hang tight, evaluate the situation as it progresses and continue to implement health care safeguards before we discuss Phase IV.”
Price: “Yes, Congressional Democrats, myself included, have long emphasized that we should have a robust infrastructure package across all modes: roads, bridges, rail, transit, bicycle/pedestrian, and airports. Housing and community development programs should also be a major component — they empower our local communities to meet pressing needs while creating jobs. I also believe building out more broadband would spur economic growth and help close the “homework” gap that has been exacerbated by closed schools and libraries. However, it seems clear that Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans are opposed to these common-sense investments, which could pose a significant barrier to enactment.”
Adams: “I am happy to work with President Trump if we can get a healthy, diverse infrastructure plan for the 21st Century. We should get Charlotte’s 2030 Transit Corridor System Plan built, because any infrastructure plan of that scale has to focus on green transportation and creating jobs that will still be here in 20 years. If the package reflects Charlotte’s affordable housing priorities and includes housing as infrastructure, I think it will be able to generate some support from the House. It should treat higher education projects, including for HBCUs, as essential infrastructure. However, if it’s just interstate projects that will contribute to climate change, I’m out.”
Budd: “I could support public-private partnerships in the form of selling off distressed and unused federal assets to pay for new infrastructure spending.”
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