Friday, April 24, 2020

Congress Creates a Coronavirus Mess

Congress has found its own neat and plausible answer to the Covid-19 pandemic: spend, spend some more.

So cue the next iteration of Congress's virus debate-a battle between those intent on more mindless blowouts and those belatedly determined to clean up the messes Congress has already made.

On the mindless side, we find Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who promised this week's legislation was merely an "Interim measure" and declared that "In the weeks ahead Congress must prepare another major bill in similar size and ambition to the Cares Act"-last month's $2.2 trillion law.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell indicated an end to any more unanimous-consent spending and voiced his opposition to Democratic schemes to bail out badly managed state pensions.

Other Republicans call for a closer look at all the dollars Congress threw in its panic, wondering if it isn't prudent to claw back some of the more wasteful or unnecessary handouts.

Congress has an obligation at least to ensure the money it is shoveling out-whether in grants or loans-remains with those for whom it is intended.

Republicans need to make clear-to Democrats and the White House alike-that not another dime will leave the government's coffers until Congress better accounts for the programs it has already enacted.


https://www.wsj.com/articles/congress-creates-a-coronavirus-mess-11587682321?mod=hp_opin_pos_2

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