Biden’s Rescue Plan Is a Start. Now Think Big.
Economic inequities that have been building for decades won’t be resolved by a $1.9 trillion Band-Aid.
Does he have the vision thing?
Photographer: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Tens of millions of Americans are scrambling to keep a roof over their heads, food on their tables, education for their children and access to health care during an epic public health and economic crisis. President-elect Joe Biden acknowledged that hardship Thursday night by calling for a $1.9 trillion federal rescue package that would deliver urgently needed — but temporary — aid to workers and families as well as to state and local governments struggling to support them. A second, more ambitious recovery plan to address longer-term problems such as infrastructure and climate change is also in the works. But even broader vision will be required to reverse lingering damage to the economy.
Biden’s rescue plan follows two federal relief efforts that jointly clocked in at about $3.6 trillion in spending. It calls for direct payments of $1,400 to individuals, $400 a week in supplementary unemployment benefits through September, $350 billion for state and local governments, and various other funding for schools, vaccination, child care and food and rental assistance. It would also raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour.