Congressman LaHood says the second stimulus unlikely

Congressman Darin LaHood (left) spoke with Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason before a check presentation on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy: Blake Haas/WJBC)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – There will not be another stimulus package, according to a Central Illinois Congressman.

With election day less than two weeks away, Congressman Darin LaHood said House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi continues to add language that is not COVID-related.

“I think unfortunately Nancy Pelosi has been playing too many games and frankly I don’t think anything will get done. I hope they keep negotiating. But we could have got this done three or four weeks ago if Pelosi would of got rid of the non-COVID-related things. What do I mean by that? She had things in there to give checks to illegal immigrants; we can’t be doing that. She had (the) stuff to nationalize the legalization of marijuana – again, that’s not COVID-related.”

So far, the White House is offering around $1.9 trillion, while the Democrats are proposing $2.2 trillion in relief.

“Let’s focus on small businesses; let’s focus on schools; let’s focus on (the) cities and municipalities. And we can find agreement on that, but unfortunately, I don’t think that’s going to happen,” added LaHood.

LISTEN: Congressman Darin LaHood spoke with WJBC’s Blake Haas about a second stimulus package. 

On Tuesday, the White House said negotiation progress continues between Speaker Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…