NTU urges all Senators to vote “NO” on S. Con. Res. 5, the fiscal year (FY) 2021 concurrent budget resolution, and all Representatives to vote "NO" on H. Con. Res. 11, the FY 2021 concurrent budget resolution. This legislation, which would allow Congressional Democrats to pass a nearly-$2 trillion bill on party-line votes, is bloated with provisions that are not targeted at those most in need or that will negatively affect the country’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. While lawmakers can and should consider relief measures for workers and businesses that are struggling, Congressional leaders’ current reconciliation plans point to a partisan measure full of extraneous provisions. Members should instead commit to a bipartisan, targeted bill.
Notwithstanding NTU’s long-time advocacy for deficit reduction efforts, we recognize there was an urgent need for federal support to struggling families and businesses weathering the COVID-19 crisis over the past year. That is why we supported many provisions in the CARES Act and swiftly pivoted to months of advocacy work on additional targeted relief measures to the most at-risk and at-need Americans. We also identified some elements of President Biden’s $1.9-trillion COVID relief proposal that we believe would stand muster with taxpayers, such as funds directed at COVID-19 vaccine distribution, contact tracing, and testing.
Unfortunately, much of the Biden plan seems poorly targeted. For example, the Biden plan proposes to send $350 billion to states and municipalities even though recent data suggest state revenue shortfalls are a fraction of that total. The Biden plan also proposes to send $1,400 checks to Americans under the same income thresholds as previous $1,200 and $600 checks. We continue to believe that lawmakers should not use deficit financing to transfer tens or even hundreds of billions of dollars to families that are making close to six figures per year and -- data show -- are largely saving the money Congress has already sent them. We also worry about the economic impacts a federal $15 minimum wage would have on small and mid-sized businesses around the country, especially in rural and suburban areas where the cost of living is much lower than in metropolitan hubs.
Lastly, we are concerned that Congressional leaders may pass this bill on a party-line vote. COVID-19 relief has thus far been a bipartisan venture, and we believe that it should continue to be bipartisan. A group of Republican Senators recently offered a counterproposal to the Biden plan, and plenty of House Republicans are interested in COVID-19 relief efforts. We urge lawmakers to give bipartisanship a chance, especially since the ink is barely dry on December’s $900-billion relief bill.
Roll call votes on S. Con. Res. 5 and H. Con. Res. 11 will be significantly weighted in NTU’s annual Rating of Congress and a “NO” vote will be considered the pro-taxpayer position.
If you have any questions, please contact NTU Policy and Government Affairs Manager Andrew Lautz at alautz@ntu.org.