
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) are seen at an event with House and Senate Democrats in the Capitol on Wednesday, June 26, 2019. (Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Schumer Says Democrats About to Go "Rooseveltian" on Covid-19 Relief. Progressives Say We Hope So
"Let's see what they propose. Not holding hope too high though."
After Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer promised in an interview Thursday that he and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are soon to unveil a "Rooseveltian" coronavirus aid package, progressives responded with skeptical hope.
"Let's see what they propose," tweeted progressive activist Stephanie Quilao. "Not holding hope too high though."
Schumer, a New York Democrat, told MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle that Democrats were working on a major package to assist the victims of the economic crisis caused by the virus, which is still spreading across the country and killing thousands.
"We have a huge crisis here," said Schumer. "We need action here to help average folks. We've done some in the House and Senate. We need to do a lot more."
Winnie Wong, co-founder of People for Bernie and former senior advisor to Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign, signaled her support for a transformative piece of legislation on par with FDR's New Deal:
By invoking Franklin Delano Roosevelt, whose New Deal helped get the U.S out of the Great Depression, Schumer is setting expectations high for the package.
"This is good," tweeted economist Stephanie Kelton. "Now dig your heels in and let's get it done."
But some progressives were wary of promises from Democratic leadership, especially in light of reporting that Pelosi is considering adding funding to bailout lobbyists into the next bill while downplaying the possibility of legislation introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) for a paycheck guarantee proposal.
Shoveling cash at lobbying groups, wrote the American Prospect's David Dayen, was the "dumbest political maneuver" the California Democrat could use her leverage for in the current moment.
Urgent. It's never been this bad.
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission from the outset was simple. To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It’s never been this bad out there. And it’s never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed and doing some of its best and most important work, the threats we face are intensifying. Right now, with just three days to go in our Spring Campaign, we're falling short of our make-or-break goal. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Can you make a gift right now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? There is no backup plan or rainy day fund. There is only you. —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
After Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer promised in an interview Thursday that he and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are soon to unveil a "Rooseveltian" coronavirus aid package, progressives responded with skeptical hope.
"Let's see what they propose," tweeted progressive activist Stephanie Quilao. "Not holding hope too high though."
Schumer, a New York Democrat, told MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle that Democrats were working on a major package to assist the victims of the economic crisis caused by the virus, which is still spreading across the country and killing thousands.
"We have a huge crisis here," said Schumer. "We need action here to help average folks. We've done some in the House and Senate. We need to do a lot more."
Winnie Wong, co-founder of People for Bernie and former senior advisor to Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign, signaled her support for a transformative piece of legislation on par with FDR's New Deal:
By invoking Franklin Delano Roosevelt, whose New Deal helped get the U.S out of the Great Depression, Schumer is setting expectations high for the package.
"This is good," tweeted economist Stephanie Kelton. "Now dig your heels in and let's get it done."
But some progressives were wary of promises from Democratic leadership, especially in light of reporting that Pelosi is considering adding funding to bailout lobbyists into the next bill while downplaying the possibility of legislation introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) for a paycheck guarantee proposal.
Shoveling cash at lobbying groups, wrote the American Prospect's David Dayen, was the "dumbest political maneuver" the California Democrat could use her leverage for in the current moment.
After Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer promised in an interview Thursday that he and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are soon to unveil a "Rooseveltian" coronavirus aid package, progressives responded with skeptical hope.
"Let's see what they propose," tweeted progressive activist Stephanie Quilao. "Not holding hope too high though."
Schumer, a New York Democrat, told MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle that Democrats were working on a major package to assist the victims of the economic crisis caused by the virus, which is still spreading across the country and killing thousands.
"We have a huge crisis here," said Schumer. "We need action here to help average folks. We've done some in the House and Senate. We need to do a lot more."
Winnie Wong, co-founder of People for Bernie and former senior advisor to Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign, signaled her support for a transformative piece of legislation on par with FDR's New Deal:
By invoking Franklin Delano Roosevelt, whose New Deal helped get the U.S out of the Great Depression, Schumer is setting expectations high for the package.
"This is good," tweeted economist Stephanie Kelton. "Now dig your heels in and let's get it done."
But some progressives were wary of promises from Democratic leadership, especially in light of reporting that Pelosi is considering adding funding to bailout lobbyists into the next bill while downplaying the possibility of legislation introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) for a paycheck guarantee proposal.
Shoveling cash at lobbying groups, wrote the American Prospect's David Dayen, was the "dumbest political maneuver" the California Democrat could use her leverage for in the current moment.

