U.S. negotiations stall; Vermont unveils grants
The sun illuminates the countryside along North Bridgewater Road in Bridgewater, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
After some gradual progress days ago, a Friday deadline came and went without a compromise on new federal pandemic aid legislation.
Overall, Democratic leaders offered to reduce their aid proposal from about $3 trillion to $2 trillion — closer to the $1 trillion GOP package — but that offer was turned down. A series of short-term deals were rejected by Democrats over the course of the week, as the sides struggled to move forward. On the enhanced unemployment funding which expired, Republicans offered $400 in weekly unemployment aid for four months, while Democrats wanted that amount to stay at $600, Business Insider reported.
Without a deal, the White House has pivoted to executive orders as a next step. On Friday evening, President Donald Trump said those orders would take action on unemployment aid, a new eviction moratorium and student loan assistance, according to CNBC.
Democratic leadership urged continued negotiation, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling executive orders “inadequate.”
“The biggest problem with the executive orders is not what they do, but who they leave out,” Schumer told the media. “They leave out testing, tracing, treatment. We know we’re not going to solve this problem economically until we solve the health problem.”
The U.S. jobs report unveiled Friday shows the economy added 1.8 million jobs in July, but gains on unemployment have slowed. The jobless rate saw only a slight drop in July to 10 percent — still higher than at any point during the Great Recession, according to Business Insider. That could be a sign that the economic momentum spurred by the federal aid from the CARES Act, which passed in March, is slowing down.
In Vermont, that first round of federal relief continues to back recovery efforts. The latest, announced Friday, is a $12 million grant initiative for child care programs — a sector that clearly must be sustained if reopening efforts are to succeed. Eligible applicants include child care and afterschool programs, summer day camps, parent child centers and agencies that serve as fiscal agents for local Children’s Integrated Services. Grant applications are open through Aug. 26, with award notices expected by Sept. 11.
Even as states continue efforts to help their economies, the need for further pandemic relief has been clear for many weeks. It seems the more challenging political discussions become, the more important community is, at least as a comfort during these times. The way forward is unclear, when it comes to the many needs to be met. But one thing is for certain: It’s never been more important to build a sense of togetherness and compassionate collaboration to meet our responsibilities as a society. Those qualities are foundational to the unity our country greatly needs.
— Gareth Henderson
