1. Here's a list of what's been floated, either publicly or privately, for the #CoronavirusCoup. I am told that Pelosi will take whatever McConnell negotiates in the Senate on the corporate side. $50 billion for airlines. $150 billion for anyone Mnuchin wants, likely Boeing.
2. Speeding up of payments to defense contractors. Lifting of Other Transaction Authority caps for the Pentagon to shovel money to defense contractors without restrictions. Transdigm likes to use this one. washingtonpost.com/business/2019/…
3. Elon Musk and Jeff Bezo want "$5 billion in grants or loans to keep commercial space company employees on the job and launch facilities open." They also want the IRS to give them cash for R&D tax credits.
4. "The hotel industry wants $150 billion. The restaurant industry wants $145 billion. The National Association of Manufacturers wants $1.4 trillion. The International Council of Shopping Centers wants a guarantee of up to $1 trillion." cnbc.com/2020/03/21/cor…
5. "Adidas is seeking support for a long-sought provision allowing people to use pretax money to pay for gym memberships and fitness equipment." nytimes.com/2020/03/20/us/…
6. Big meatpackers want expedited visas for seasonal workers. nppc.org/wp-content/upl…
7. Here's one GOP lobbyist. “Any time there is a crisis and Washington is in the middle of it is an opportunity for guys like me.” thedailybeast.com/k-street-lobby…
8. Importers are rushing to get rid of duties paid by those found guilty of dumping. app.emarketeer.com/a/plink/row/v1…
9. Beer industry wants $5B. Candy industry wants $500M. And on. And on. And on. There will be more. thehill.com/business-a-lob…
10. McConnell wants big business to rule. So he is refusing aid to normal people, and the Dems are negotiating with him to try to get unemployment assistance and social welfare. He knows Dems won't pay attention to corporate bailouts if he takes the public hostage.
11. Pelosi will cave on all of this, because the moderate Democrats want her to govern this way. "We have to do something!" they will say. The only hope is a bipartisan coalition of skeptics, people like @AOC and @MikeforWI coming together to say NO #corporatecoup.
12. We have to support industry in a moment of crisis. But the key here is the conditions, and what is likely to happen by allowing Mnuchin to set the terms of all aid is a consolidation of power in the hands of a few. No more small business. America will be unrecognizable.
13. I put this thread into a blog post. mattstoller.substack.com/p/stop-the-cor…
14. Take this blog post, repost it, forward it, whatever. We need to stop the opportunistic power grab. Bailouts can wait, we need aid to the people. Rent is coming due at the end of the month, but I can assure you Boeing will be fine for awhile. mattstoller.substack.com/p/stop-the-cor…
