$1.9T watchdog
Joe taps ex-Bam aide to oversee stimulus
President Biden tapped a veteran Democratic economist on Monday to oversee the implementation of his $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus package and make sure the cash is delivered “quickly and directly” as Americans await stimulus checks, small-business aid and a variety of other pandemic-related relief.
Gene Sperling, who served as the director of the National Economic Council for Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, will be in “constant communication” with mayors, governors and other leaders from all 50 states as the federal government begins processing the enormous rescue legislation, Biden said.
“He is ready to get to work,” Biden said. “And together we’re going to make sure that the benefits of the American Rescue Plan go out quickly and directly to the American people where they belong.”
In selecting Sperling, Biden sought to draw a distinction with former President Donald Trump, who fired a special inspector general appointed to make sure the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill passed last March would be rolled out without hiccups.
After the axing of the inspector general, millions of dollars from the small-business-benefiting Paycheck Protection Program ended up lining the coffers of large corporations — a stumble Biden said he’s intent on avoiding this time around.
“The devil is in the details,” Biden said. “It requires fastidious oversight, to make sure the relief arrives quickly, equitably and efficiently with no waste or fraud, in your bank account, in your mailbox, to the local business, in your community, and to your child’s school.”
The appointment of Sperling came as stimulus checks began arriving in Americans’ bank accounts in light of Biden signing the $1.9 trillion measure into law Thursday.
Individual taxpayers earning less than $75,000 a year can expect $1,400 direct checks, while couples earning less than $150,000 jointly get $2,800 checks. Those earning more can still be eligible for smaller payments, and the Treasury Department has set up a website where taxpayers can check their status and set up direct deposits with the IRS that allows for swifter processing. Beyond the widely popular stimulus checks, Biden’s economic relief package extends the $300-a-week federal unemployment bonus through September and bankrolls a plethora of other types of aid, including billions of dollars for coronavirus vaccination efforts.
Biden is expected to kick off a national “Help is Here” tour with a visit to Pennsylvania on Tuesday to showcase the benefits of the stimulus package. He will visit Atlanta later in the week with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Speaking at the White House on Monday, Biden said the relief package — his first major legislative victory as president — is already delivering “shots in arms and money in pockets.”
“That’s important,” he said. “The American Rescue Plan is already doing what it was designed to do: Make a difference in people’s everyday lives.”