Thread by @RickSmithShow

Lily Roberts: It's hard to remember back to this time last year. Millions of people hadn't had access to a COVID vaccine yet. The effects of the American Rescue Plan showed the incentives in investing in a more durable social net.
@LilyRoberts12 @amprog

Lily Roberts: Vaccine centers were quickly set up with the aid of FEMA & the National Guard. With the American Rescue Plan, people could buy marketplace health insurance for less.
Rick: That's a critical point. We should be strengthening this safety net.
@LilyRoberts12 @amprog

Lily Roberts: There was so much support--child tax credit, extra unemployment benefits--it kept spending afloat & allowed people who depended on that support to keep their jobs.
@LilyRoberts12 @amprog

Lily Roberts: Almost all countries are experiencing inflation b/c of COVID backlogs & shipping delays. Most of those countries didn't have some kind of rescue plan to help their citizens.
@LilyRoberts12 @amprog

Lily Roberts: We can't afford not to keep doing the monthly checks. That amount of money per month means a child is more likely to go to college & to pay more taxes in 20 years.
@LilyRoberts12 @amprog

Lily Roberts: It makes a huge difference for kids under 6 when their families can put quality food on the table & to afford good child care.
@LilyRoberts12 @amprog

Rick: I say it's cruel to show families what's possible & then take it away from them.
Lily Roberts:Those families were already in crisis b/c of COVID--couldn't go to work, kids home from school, daycares had closed-- & that little bit of money helped them.
@LilyRoberts12 @amprog

Lily Roberts: It's easier for the IRS to go after people w/ simpler tax filings. There are lots of things we could do to improve the tax code but let's start w/ enforcing the laws we have.
Rick: It's easier to kick the downtrodden than to go after the rich
@LilyRoberts12 @amprog

Lily Roberts: We're coming out of nearly 40 years of defunding the services people need b/c they benefitted poor people. Think back to the days when people had to spend days on the phone with their unemployment offices b/c the # of offices had been cut.
@LilyRoberts12 @amprog

Lily Roberts: The American Rescue Plan money has gone to states. I'm hearing from mayors who are using this money to support their homeless populations & food banks. They can prioritize what the real needs are in a way the fed. gov't. can't do.
@LilyRoberts12 @amprog