Congress finally reached an agreement regarding a stimulus package for the American public to help soften the economic blow of the massive COVID-19 pandemic that has now killed tens of thousands of Americans and put millions more indefinitely out of work.
The initial $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill, which featured both direct payments to the American public and loans to small businesses as well as more corporate bailouts, has ended up as the largest disaster relief package in the history of the United States. And while the president and his family were supposed to be blocked from benefiting from the stimulus package, it seems as though some of the provisions featured in the fine print of the 880-page corporation-friendly emergency relief bill offers up a loophole for both Trump himself and his son-in-law Jared Kushner to reap the benefits after all.
The massive relief bill features $290 billion in direct payments to American individuals, $260 billion allocated for expanded unemployment insurance, $500 billion set aside for airline and large corporation bailouts, $367 billion for small business loans, $100 billion for hospitals, and $150 billion assigned to state and local governments — all with the purpose of fighting back against the enormous economic weight of the outbreak.
However, despite Democrats’ efforts to include provisions that disallow Trump and other government officials and their families from dipping into the proverbial honey pot, the New York Times reported that overwhelming swell of the bill during negotiations had led to an additional provision for benefits for special interests, and it may mean that Kushner will get a check after all.
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The block against government officials receiving a cut of the relief package appears to only apply to those who “directly or indirectly” control 20 or more percent of a company. Ivanka’s husband has a habit of splitting up his ownership between himself and his parents and siblings, often leaving him with ownership over less than 20 percent criteria of the company.
And it seems as though Kushner may not be the only member of the Trump clan that’s eligible for the exceptions.
Provisions outlined in the bill allowing for companies with multiple hotels to qualify as a small business, making them eligible for the loans, as well as benefits regarding tax breaks for restaurants that could ultimately serve as a cut of the stimulus package for the president himself, as the Trump Organization owns a small chain of hotels as well as several restaurants.
These fine-print provisions could ultimately allow Trump to receive massive tax breaks as well as the small business loans allowed in the package provided that he continues to pay his employees — though reports have indicated that hundreds of workers have already been laid off.
This is aside from the fact that GOPers lobbied until several large corporations that have a history of collusion with the president, such as Boeing, received a bailout package as well, which will likely also serve to benefit the president, even if it is indirectly.
Honestly, it comes as no surprise that Donald’s jockeys in Congress sank their teeth in and refused to relieve the American public until they found a way to benefit Trump, and by default themselves. All while the rest of us out here in the real world will barely be getting enough to make ends meet.
You can read the full report from the Times here.
Featured image via screen capture
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