COVID stimulus price tag: $17,000 per person; $69,000 per family

© J. Scott Applewhite/APSpeaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., holds a news conference ahead of the vote on the Democrat's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 9, 2021, as Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., looks on.

The combined $6 trillion price tag on COVID-19 stimulus packages Ok'd by Congress, including today's $1.9 trillion Biden bill, will cost taxpayers the equivalent of $17,000 each, or $69,000 per family, according to a new analysis.

What's more, the new package set for House approval today, sets aside billions of dollars for non-COVID-19 relief and adds to the nearly $1 trillion in unspent money approved in earlier coronavirus bills.

House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, in urging defeat of the so-called "Christmas tree" package, said on the House floor, "This is the reality of the bill before us today: It showers money on special interests, but spends less than 9% on actually defeating the virus. But it gives San Francisco $600 million, essentially wiping out 92% of their budget deficit."

.@housebudgetGOP Republican Leader @RepJasonSmith at House Rules Committee meeting today: "So much of what is in this bailout is for the political class, not the working class."

READ full prepared remarks -https://t.co/kEInhtTc78

- House Budget GOP (@housebudgetGOP) March 9, 2021

Critics have also hit the legislation because much of it won't be spent this year.

The minority staff of the House Budget Committee and Rep. Jason Smith provided Secrets with the highlights of the Senate-passed version spending in the bill unrelated to COVID relief, posted below.

• Less than 9% goes to combating COVID-19.
• 27% or more than $500 billion goes to state and local governments.
• 21% or approximately $400 billion goes to policies that reduce private-sector employment.
• $135 million for the National Endowment for the Arts.
• $135 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities.
• $200 million for the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
• $12 billion for foreign aid.

What is spent in this year of the $1.9 trillion?

• 5% ($6 billion) of the $130 billion set aside for K-12 schools.
• 5% ($250 million) of the $5 billion for Emergency Housing Vouchers.
• 17% ($7 billion) of the $39 billion for childcare.
• 23% ($11 billion) of the $50 billion for FEMA.
• None of the $5 billion for homeless assistance.

Tags: Washington Secrets

Original Author: Paul Bedard

Original Location: COVID stimulus price tag: $17,000 per person; $69,000 per family