KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
Congressman Mike Garcia, R-Santa Clarita, voted against a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package that was ultimately approved in the U.S. House of Representatives Friday.
On Friday, Garcia voted against the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package, which was ultimately approved in a mostly party-line 219-212 vote.
“I’m committed to providing Americans the support they need to combat COVID-19 and open our communities,” Garcia wrote in a post ahead of the vote. “But a $1.9 trillion bill that only puts 9% towards COVID when the U.S. already has a $27 trillion debt is foolish.”
Garcia’s vote Friday represents a break from his previous votes when it comes to COVID-19 stimulus, having voted in favor of the $900 billion stimulus package passed back in December.
“While this bill isn’t perfect, it funnels resources where they are most needed without the unnecessary spending found in Pelosi’s $3 (trillion) COVID-19 relief proposals,” Garcia said in a statement at the time. “As a fiscal conservative the size of this bill is staggering. But in the end, it is needed and may still not be enough for some small businesses and individuals who are suffering.”
A week after that, Garcia was among Republicans in the House who voted in favor of increasing the size of COVID-19 stimulus checks in that package from $600 to $2,000, which ultimately failed.
“The reality is these checks are not helping us fight COVID but are helping us survive the government-induced lockdowns,” Garcia said in a statement at the time. “While I am a fiscal conservative, the original $600 was way too little, especially in SoCal, where the cost of living is higher, and in CA-25, where our unemployment rate is over 10%.”
The latest package passed in the House would provide direct payments of $1,400 to people earning less than $75,000, with the amount phasing out for those earning up to $100,000. Couples earning less than $150,000 a year would receive $2,800, and families with children would be eligible for an additional $1,400 per dependent.
Unlike the last two rounds of payments, adult dependents such as college students would be eligible for the payments.
Additionally, the package would provide additional assistance for unemployed and uninsured Americans, as well as a bigger tax break for parents.
The package now moves to the Senate, where an exact timeline for its vote has not been determined as of Saturday morning.
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How is that recall going against this man? He is clearly not qualified to be in office.
Unsurprisingly, Mike Garcia has once again failed to represent his constituency. Give him an A for consistency though. Don’t forget he was among those Republicans voting against the certification of Joe Biden after the last election in which Trump lost by nearly seven-million votes leading to the insurrection at our nation’s capital. Following that he grandstanded by demanding better conditions for the National Guard called in due to the riot. Then he voted against the second (2nd.) impeachment of Trump who caused the insurrection.
While Garcia is wealthy, many of us are not. Claiming this stimulus package puts only 9% toward Covid ignores the plight of many who have lost employment or have become underemployed. Claiming the national debt is too high to assist us while giving massive tax breaks to the wealthy is an old play used every time a Democrat assumes the presidency. Favoring the very few while the rest suffer is the result.
We almost had some one elected to represent us. Instead we got Mike Garcia.
AGREED 100%!
Other countries are receiving the stimulus package money. it is just not published.
Amen Denny! Garcia has to come up with one or two things each week. The fact he does absolutely nothing to support small businesses and people who need help from this last year… This guy really needs to go!
The current bill is full of special projects and foreign aid unrelated to the pandemic but no one is telling us the whole story! It’s wrong to go forward with it!
Agree 100 percent too!
Thank you Mike! This bill has little to do with COVID relief and a lot to do with leftist pet projects. The democrats must think Americans are so ignorant and will actually want this to pass. This bill is America Last and would do little for hard working Americans expect raise out debt and devalue our currency
Trumplican Garbage. Get some new talking points
It’s called basic economics, get some new talking points genius!
All of the “non-racist” racists in the SCV voted for him because the think that he is a Latino. What a joke. There is a word to describe people like him. POCHO
You get what you paid for. Retrumplicans!!!
When you play identity politics it shows you have no capability to debate or argue what the substance of the bill has in it, you just attack the person with your usual hateful leftist dogma.
Dean, if only you even knew what you are talking about. We are not “pochos”, which is an insult. We are the best of both cultures and proud of it. There is a word for folks like you too, you are a tonto. Many of us Americans of Hispanic ancestry agree with our Congressman Mike Garcia and do not want even more of our hard earned money going to bail out mismanaged states like California, controlled by your communist Democrats. We want taxpayer money spent and focused on helping the American people, not bailing out tyrants and dictators or lining the pockets of their buddies. So far, Mike has done exactly what we expected him to and why we voted for him, using common sense and restraint when allocating our money. Despite trying hard, your team was unable to steal this Congressional seat too and you simply cannot deal with it. I love President Trump and Mike Garcia because they are both patriots who understand that the United States of America and her people must come first. We are a nation of laws to be respected and enforced. Please do not pretend to “know” what Hispanics think because you fail miserably.
I will agree about one thing, We almost had some one elected to represent us.
Instead we got Biden.
Thank you Mike for voting against this. The Government needs to stop printing money, now that the Federal Deficit is $30 trillion dollars. In 1970 it was only $0.4 trillion. Biden has now spent $2 trillion dollars his second month in office, and the middle class will be forced to attempt to somehow pay this down. Meanwhile Biden’s his drug addict son Hunter, has collected millions of dollars in shady deals from China and Russia. Of course since he is Democrat the corrupt and bias FBI, and DOJ won’t investigate him. The same thing for Somalia born Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s money laundering scheme as captured by Project Veritas. Once again, silence from the left wing media on their crimes. Do you notice Ted Cruz’s trip last week to Mexico gets 4x’s the coverage of Cuomo’s nursing home deaths. The corrupt politicians need to be pulled out of office.
100% correct on all counts Rufus. There is so much pork that has absolutely NOTHING to do with Covid and that level of spending needs to stop. Remove all the non-Covid related spending and help those that lost everything due to closures only.
You are so right. Most of the money is going to other countries and to states who put themselves in debt. Do people realize this is our taxpayer money and we will have to pay all of this money back through higher taxes? My utility bills have already gone way up since the Biden goons stole the election. Thank you Garcia!
Who precisely created this enormous deficit? Donald Moron Trump did. Suddenly the GOP is deficit conscious, now when it would benefit average Americans to send money our way. Trillions thrown away with tax breaks for millionaires, unusable military aircraft. . Garcia does not represent me or our family’s values.
Covid relief stimulus bill
Talk about a slap in the face to anyone who is not a federal bureaucrat,
Some of the fine print that probably won’t get covered,
Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion plus ‘Covid Crisis’ stimulus relief package includes an ‘additional’ $1,400 a week in paid leave until September 30 for ‘federal employees only’
Federal employees already receive 12 weeks of unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
The federal government takes care of its own, particularly when it comes to the federal government union workers. They can be paid to not work.
For the rest of us, busy juggling children, go to work if they’ll let us and the ever-changing school landscape, we can look forward to a ‘ONE’ time $1,400, maybe.
We our hearing the amount of money that actually may go to defeating the virus is less than nine percent, maybe.
This Covid relief stimulus bill is a ‘pork’ bill by politicians who continue to side with their special interest allies, while ignoring the real needs of the American people.
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I cannot wait for 2022, when we can elect someone who will look out for all of the people in SCV.
I am also a fiscal conservative who will not receive a penny of this money, but I recognize that every one is not that fortunate. I want to be surprised by MG, but will not hold my breath.
Lol. Your not a fiscal conservative. This bill is a gift to Liberal businesses who will in return donate that money back to Pelosi and company for their re-elections
The usual money laundering scheme, your are spot on Estaban, nice rhyme!
So grateful that it will pass despite Garcia. So grateful that Biden won despite Garcia. So grateful that California is and will remain blue. Grateful that the majority of people in the United States voted sanely.
So grateful that it will pass despite Garcia. So grateful that Biden won . So grateful that California is and will remain blue. Grateful that the majority of people in the United States voted sanely.
This makes me happy. Did you see that only 9% was for Covid. ONKY 9%. So anyone on here made that he voted this way, didn’t look to see what was in the Bill.
Fat finger day ??♀️ It should say ONLY 9% and it’s Mad, not made.
Garcia is the one that needs to be re-called.
Mique will only vote for Covid bills that benefit Trump and his friends and not those in the SCV and across the coountry who have been suffering after Covid when Trump said they had it under control and it would disappear like magic 🙁
I think Mr. Garcia did the right thing. Why increase the national debt by that much because Democrats want to go on a spending spree? What does all that fluff have to do with COVID?
Republican fiscal responsibility claims are bullshit.
During Trump’s pre-pandemic years from 2016 to 2019 the Federal deficits soared, adding $2.8 trillion to the national debt, in large part due to sharp reduction in the corporate tax rate to 21% from 35%.
Where was fiscal responsibility then?
The $900 billion COVID-19 relief package passed in December – when Republicans controlled both the Senate and occupied the White House – contained ZERO financial aid for state and local governments.
This new bill not only provides COVID-19 relief through stimulus checks but gives aid for the unemployed, the hungry and those facing eviction from layoffs and business failures caused by the pandemic. It increases funding for vaccinations and testing. It provides support for small businesses, states and local governments to keep police, firefighters and other public employees on the job during a pandemic that has killed more than 500,000 Americans and caused economic devastation.
There are many cities across the US want the $350 billion in direct aid to pump into state and local governments and the $130 billion more for the reopening of public schools.
Record unemployment and loss of health care and housing are legitimate indicators of economic distress. Unless you are deaf, dumb and blind.
Mike, do you really want to go down in history as one of the politicians that worked to undermine democracy and decency? Your actions to date say that party matters more than your constituents as a whole.
Spin Spin Spin
Doing what Lib’s do best, form a circle and point left
Nice cherry picking comments, wouldn’t have expected anything less,
you mentioned lots of government help, and we know how that works,
Wheres the “bulk” of the rest of the trillions of Covid relief going?
I’m sure you’ll include it on your next diatribe,
Government pumping money into special interest allies, “pork”, only to be pumped back to them is not my idea of Covid relief,
It’s called corruption, and based on your comments, your well aware of the process as an enabler yourself,
It’s the New corrupt democrat/Liberal Woke politicians that are working to undermine democracy and decency that are at center stage with the help of the enabling media and folks like you.
Day 36, Biden bombs Syria
Paul, what you call a diatribe is what I call reviewing the facts from the source before I form an opinion. And should new facts coming to light, I may form a revised opinion. But facts are important.
If you prefer to call that enabling, I am okay with that. You do you.
Here’s a look at highlights of the package, showing each category’s approximate percentage of the total package. The information is drawn from the full text of the bill, estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, and an analysis by the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. CBO projections estimate both increased costs and decreased revenues.
STIMULUS PAYMENTS OF $1,400 (22% OF THE TOTAL PACKAGE)
Individuals who meet the following annual income thresholds would receive a one-time payment of $1,400 each: $75,000 for individuals, $112,500 for head of household, and $150,000 for married filing jointly. That will cost the federal government an estimated $422 billion.
HELP FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (18%)
$350 billion in funding for state and local governments, which would be allocated not only according to population as in previous COVID-19 rescue packages, but would also be based on unemployment rates.
EXTENDING UNEMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS (13%)
The bill proposes extending emergency unemployment programs, which enhance the amount and duration of regular unemployment benefits and extend them to people who would not normally be eligible. According to a CBO estimate, this would cost $242 billion, including:
• $163 billion in federal pandemic unemployment compensation (more generous payments).
• $44.2 billion in pandemic unemployment assistance (for self-employed and other workers not usually eligible).
• $34.5 billion in pandemic emergency unemployment compensation (extended duration of assistance).
K-12 AND HIGHER EDUCATION (9%)
$170 billion for education, of which $129 billion is designated for K-12 schools, which Mr. Biden said could be used to help schools safely reopen, make up for lost learning, and care for the needs of students hardest hit by the pandemic. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Department of Education has yet to spend most of the $113 billion it has already received in COVID-19 relief, so the CBO estimates that less than 10% of these additional K-12 funds would be spent in 2021.
In addition, the bill provides $7.7 billion to help schools and libraries support distance learning, mainly through telecommunications equipment and services.
EXPANDED CHILD TAX CREDIT, CHILD CARE TAX CREDIT, AND EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT (6%)
According to the CBO, these benefits would cost an estimated $108.4 billion, including:
• $89.2 billion child tax credit.
• $19.2 billion earned income tax credit.
TESTING, TRACING, AND VACCINES (5%)
The bill includes $92 billion for public health initiatives, including:
• $46 billion for testing and tracing.
• $7.6 billion for public health departments.
• $7.5 billion to plan, promote, distribute, and track COVID-19 vaccines.
• $6.1 billion for Indian health services, including vaccines ($600 million) and testing and tracing ($1.5 billion).
• $5.2 billion for the supply chain for COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and medical supplies.
PENSIONS (5%)
$86 billion in assistance to support troubled pension funds. Of the more than 10 million multiemployer plan participants, about 1.3 million are in plans in danger of insolvency that will soon run out of money.
HEALTH INSURANCE (4%)
The largest expenses related to health insurance that the Monitor identified total $81.3 billion, and include:
• $34.2 billion for expanding assistance with paying health care premiums.
• $16.2 billion for increasing Medicaid payments to states for expanding Affordable Care Act coverage.
• $13.5 billion for veterans’ medical care and health needs.
• $9.6 billion for expanding Medicaid coverage for prisoners close to release as well as pregnant and postpartum women for 5 years.
• $7.8 billion for expanding COBRA benefits for people who lose employer health coverage.
SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN (3%)
Programs totaling $54.3 billion, including:
• $24 billion for child care stabilization funding (through September 2021).
• $15 billion for child care and development block grant funding to states, tribes, and territories.
• $8 billion dependent care assistance.
• $6.3 billion for child care for workers.
• $1 billion for Head Start.
RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $15/HOUR BY JUNE 2025 (3%)
Here’s where I believe Republicans really lose their shit. Mind you, the Federal minimum wage has not been increased for 12 years and has not kept up with inflation.
However, the Senate parliamentarian ruled Feb. 25 that this measure could not be included in a bill passed by budget reconciliation. Ultimately, if it’s not in the Senate bill, it’s an irrelevant point.
FEMA FUNDING (3%)
$50 billion is allocated to the Disaster Relief Fund, a portion of which is allocated for funerals related to COVID-19. The federal government would cover 100% of reasonable funeral costs.
SMALL-BUSINESS ASSISTANCE (3%)
The bill allocates $50 billion for assisting small businesses and restaurants, including:
• $25 billion for Restaurant Revitalization Fund, with grants of up to $10 million per entity and $5 million per location.
• $15 billion for Economic Injury Disaster Loans for small businesses.
• $7.25 billion in additional funding for the paycheck protection program for small businesses.
EVICTION PREVENTION, HOUSING, AND FOOD (2%)
Programs totaling $44.3 billion:
• $19 billion for housing assistance.
• $9.96 billion homeowner assistance fund.
• $5 billion in emergency housing vouchers.
• $4.5 billion for low-income housing energy assistance act.
• $5.8 billion for expanded food assistance through SNAP.
TRANSPORTATION, NOT INCLUDING AIR TRAVEL (2%)
$30 billion to transit agencies, most of which would go to urban areas. The funds can be used to develop long-range transportation plans, statewide transportation plans, and statewide transportation improvement programs.
$2.2 billion is designated for maintaining public transit operations, $1.7 billion is allocated to Amtrak, and $1 billion to provisions of the FAST Act, a 2015 measure to improve surface transportation such as highways, freight, ferries, and bridges.
AIRLINES AND ASSOCIATED CONTRACTORS (1%)
$14 billion payroll support grants for eligible air carriers.
$8 billion to airports, including for operations, personnel, sanitizing, and debt service payments.
AGRICULTURE(<1%)
$4 billion for food supply chain and agriculture pandemic response.
You don't really want me to cite all the "pork" of the 2016 to 2020 years, do you?
Excellent. Thank you.
One thing is for sure, there will be many more proud excusing moments like this to come from you and your like,
“Liberalism is a mental disorder”
To be tolerant of others is what they want but can’t live by, do to cognitive disorders
George Orwell stated: “A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves and traitors are not victims but accomplices.”
With that said, I feel it’s best for me to ignore your like for now,
Orwell was correct in saying that. The proof was on full and sickening display over the weekend in Orlando, right down to the golden calf statue of Trump that looked like a Bob’s Big Boy prototype reject. Did any one see a liberal there? Of course not.
The itemized budget figures you presented total approximately $1.5 trillion. The balance of $400+ billion is designated for what other programs and projects on the Democrats’ wish lists ?
The Pelosi Payoff is a farce masquerading as an enigma inside a puzzle. Thanks Mike, finally some sanity in D.C.
Thank you for covering congressmen who vote against foreign aid. A good way to engage and get your representatives and senators to co-sponsor foreign aid bills is by emailing and calling them. https://borgenproject.org/action-center/