Little applause due Democrats on stimulus bill

President Trump on Friday signed a $2.2 trillion economic rescue package into law, after Congress finally reached a compromise and passed it.

It must be said, Trump was gracious in thanking both sides of the aisle for putting Americans “first.” “This will deliver urgently needed relief,” Trump said as he signed the bill in the Oval Office.

Because until Friday, agenda outpaced America in the battle for lawmakers’ attention.

A little over a week ago, House Democratic lawmakers held a conference call to go over provisions they wanted in the stimulus package, including solar and wind tax credits, forcing airlines to adhere to stricter emissions standards and same-day voter registration.

Meanwhile, the economic damage from the coronavirus mounted.

To hear the Democrats tell it, time stood still and they responded to the country’s call for help with all haste.

“The American people deserve a governmentwide, visionary, evidence-based response to address these threats to their lives and their livelihood and they need it now,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. A Democratic “now” is a flexible thing.

While the stimulus finally got the nod, not everyone is thrilled with what’s in the package.

“I’m going to have to vote for something that has things in it that break my heart,” said conservative Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz. But vote he did.

But Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez, D-N.Y., couldn’t resist blasting the bill Friday in an armflailing speech on the floor of the House.

“One of the largest corporate bailouts … in American history. Shameful,” she said. “The greed of that fight is wrong, for crumbs for our families.” AOC decried the $2.2 trillion package as containing a “corporate bailout.”

We’re not sure what AOC finds shameful about government payments of $1,200 to most Americans and increased jobless benefits for millions of people out of work because of the coronavirus. Large and small businesses will get loans, grants and tax breaks. States and local governments will get billions.

What’s shameful is wasting time with grandstanding.

Some lawmakers, thankfully, get it.

“We have no time to dither,” said Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va. “We have no time to engage in ideological or petty partisan fights. Our country needs us as one.”

It was a unified spirit that helped America cope with the devastating terrorist attacks of 9/11, and the impact they had on the economy. Our leaders should lead by example, not mine crises for airtime.

“This pathogen does not recognize party lines, and no partisan solution will defeat it. Neither will the government acting alone,” said GOP Whip Liz Cheney of Wyoming. “This is not a time for cynicism or invective or second-guessing. This is a time to remember that we are citizens of the greatest nation on Earth, that we have overcome every challenge we have faced, and we will overcome this one.”

The lawmakers who viewed the stimulus package in its infancy and saw the opportunity to reshape it as a progressive pinata and who decry aid to corporations in the package signed by President Trump would be wise to consider their constituents.

They’re the ones who are anxious for the $1,200 checks from the stimulus to arrive. And chances are good they’re not thinking about solar power or airline emissions while they wait.