Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is not happy with the suggestion of a White House adviser that the coronavirus relief packages pushed by Democrats are “blue state bailouts” that are unnecessary because “the economy is doing fine.”
On Wednesday, economic adviser Stephen Moore said, “I don’t see Republicans budging on the blue state bailout, and the economy is doing fine — much better than anyone expected.”
“We think the economy is strong because Trump didn’t go along with a deal,” he added.
Ocasio-Cortez responded on Twitter, “[Thirty] million people in this country are at risk of eviction. Millions of people are unemployed or underemployed from cut-back hours.”
She added, “The economy is not the stock market. We are NOT doing fine. People need help in red states and blue, and our job is to help everyone. This is basic.”
30 million people in this country are at risk of eviction.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 19, 2020
Millions of people are unemployed or underemployed from cut-back hours.
The economy is not the stock market. We are NOT doing fine. People need help in red states and blue, & our job is to help everyone. This is basic. https://t.co/M9NwZPGp2p
Congress has been gridlocked for months on talks of coronavirus relief packages. The negotiations failed to bear fruit as the presidential election loomed.
The House passed a $3 trillion stimulus package called the HEROES Act in March, but it was never taken up in the Republican-controlled upper chamber.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said this week that the Senate wants a bill containing financial relief but that the Democrats’ proposals are too expensive.
Meanwhile, coronavirus cases have spiked across the country and some states have resumed precautions they were taking during the worst times of the pandemic.
In New York, schools are halting in-person classes. The city of Philadelphia has banned all indoor gatherings as hospitals are in danger of becoming overwhelmed with patients. Michigan and Washington state have both banned indoor service at restaurants.
