- LOWER PRICETAG possibly: GOP sources tell me it has a lower price tag, now $300 billion, b/c they added offsets. ($600 billion w/ $300 billion in offsets.)
- But need to see if this is real $.
1/
SENATE GOP COVID PLAN.
As we've expected:
- Would increase unemployment benefits $300/wk per person thru end of year.
- And add new round of PPP for small businesses. Funding for about two months of expenses. For businesses with 300 or fewer workers.
2/
SENATE GOP COVID PLAN. I'm also told:
- Postal service: $10 billion
- Child care: $10 billion
- A short-term, maybe two-year tax credit for those who give to private or religious schools for scholarships (Ted Cruz plan)
- Testing, tracing money.
3/
SENATE GOP COVID PLAN.
- It does look like this may have majority support among Sen. GOP, a needle that was not easy to thread.
- Vote expected Thursday.
- But it needs 60 votes to advance, and that is NOT expected... w/ no change, it likely fails there.
4/
NEW:
- some 2000 perm. federal workers in US to be laid off - RIF’d - at USAID
- nearly all USAID workers to be placed on administrative leave starting midnight.
- this, per email sent to agency workers in past hour or so shared with me from mult. sources.
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USAID shuttering - real time:
- All USAID direct hires to be put on leave tonight, with exceptions of an unknown # designated as necessary for "mission-critical functions"
- Not clear what functions that includes.
- Those RIF'd are to receive notice today, per the email.
2/
What about USAID workers assigned overseas?
- Per email, the agency "intends" to launch a program to pay for their return home, if they wish.
- Details TBD.
- They will keep access to systems and security until they return home.
3/