$900 Billion Covid relief agreement apparently reached. Direct pymts. No state/local money but...

[Roland99]

Link to tweet

STORY w ⁦@burgessev⁩: negotiators close to a near $900bn deal w direct payments, but leaving out state and local and liability.

Dems say they have secured other pots for state and local aid.

Dir checks less than 1200. Deal expected this am. https://politico.com/news/2020/12/16/congress-deal-covid-relief-446244

[Cha]

1. KR!

[Hugin]

2. I wonder when that photograph was taken?

Looks like Moscow Mitch has some fresh bleeding in his right flipper.

[blm]

4. Shortly after getting his Botox treatment

[Hugin]

8. Are you sure it isn't...

formaldehyde or maybe even Naugahyde?

Some sort of hide?

[soothsayer]

13. lol!

[flibbitygiblets]

6. Flipper 😂. /nt

[Walleye]

3. Ha! They're just afraid of losing the Georgia elections

[underpants]

5. Direct is good but I see nothing about unemployment. They better get some money to the locals first

He relented on this worst case liability thing. Good.

[Roland99]

7. I believe a $300/week extension was discussed. Article mentions in passing

The direct checks will likely be far less than $1,200 per person — likely around $600 — in order to keep the cost of the bill in check. President Donald Trump has been keen on sending out checks to Americans, and has backing from liberals like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Republicans like Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.). An extension of unemployment benefits is also a part of the package under negotiation.

[underpants]

9. Oh. Okay I missed that.

110,000 restaurants have closed from a Bloomberg report.

[Hugin]

11. I was out driving the other day...

in my first non-essential essential excursion since July which took me away from my well trodden COVID resupply circle and I noticed a shuttered Taco Bell (I know... I know. Not much of a restaurant.) located on a very busy intersection. Gone. Closed permanently.

There were also many seeming abandoned businesses in the strip malls I passed.

The whole city has become one big Trumperville.

[underpants]

14. Odd.

I noticed a Mexican restaurant AND a Taco Bell yesterday near each other - both looked to be closed. At least not open and it was noon on a Tuesday.

[Hugin]

15. Sadly.

I've seen reports about several popular local eateries which are open and so lightly staffed they can't keep up with the call-in orders they do receive.

[Hugin]

10. If the last checks are any indication most of them won't go out until it's time to pay for...

the vaccine shots.

Say, Feb or March.

[pecosbob]

12. Looks like the corporate liability blanket and local aid were cut

The Repubs were actually demanding this as of start of business today...

Empower the United States Attorney General to deem coronavirus-related lawsuits from workers, customers and attorneys “meritless” and then file civil actions against them as retribution. In order to “vindicate the public interest,” courts would be allowed to fine respondents up to $50,000.

https://www.dailyposter.com/p/senate-proposal-would-retroactively

[Hugin]

16. Wow, not even run by the Courts...

Decided by the USAG and look at that "retribution" clause!

No wonder Barr hit the road.