Stimulus and Debt

Should creditors be able to seize payments?

By now many Americans here in the Twin Cities and around the country have had their stimulus payment directly deposited into their bank accounts.

But some recipients may never see that money. That’s because in states where garnishment for debt is allowed, there is nothing preventing creditors from going after some or all of those stimulus funds.

Even banks themselves can seize the money to satisfy debts if a customer is behind on a car note or house payment, for example, or owes fees for bounced checks.

Some government payments, such as Social Security or disability, are off limits to garnishment. But the law that authorized the stimulus payments includes no such protection.

With millions of Americans struggling with layoffs and furloughs, the stimulus money is vital for many. Advocates, including at least 25 states, have asked the Trump administration to ensure the money can’t be garnisheed but so far no protection has been forthcoming.

We want to know what you think. Should the federal government prohibit creditors from garnisheeing stimulus payments? Or should creditors be able to seize these payments from those who owe money?

Send your response (50 words maximum) to opinion@texarkanagazette. com by Wednesday, April 22. You can also mail your response to the Texarkana Gazette Friday Poll, at P.O. Box 621, Texarkana, TX 75504 or drop it off at our office, 101 E. Broad St., Texarkana, Ark. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number. We will print as many responses as we can in next Friday’s paper.

Last Week: Stay at Home Order?

Last week’s question was about Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson resisting calls for “shelter-in-place” order. Is Gov. Hutchinson right to refuse implementing a stay-at-home oder? Or should he rethink his position and issue the directive?

Governor Hutchinson is right. His targeted approach is working. He has declared a state of emergency, closed schools for the remainder of the term, issued a social distancing directive, closed many non-essential businesses, ordered restaurants to be take-out only, and restricted use of the state parks. Hutchinson spoke with Dr. Fauci last week and got a “stamp of approval” from the leading health expert on this matter. As of April 13, there are 1,400 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the state, with 30 deaths attributed to the virus. Apparently, these measures are effective in flattening the curve in Arkansas. — B.R., Ashdown, Arkansas

From www.facebook.com/texarkanagazette

Just do it! Don’t wait for someone to tell you to do it!

No to stay at home order. This virus is not going away. We do need to alter our behavior but get back to a new normal. I do not believe large inside activities should not be allowed yet but I think businesses should open up and regulate as needed. Protect if needed with mask and continue hand washing and cleaning/disinfecting of areas (which in most cases should have been happening anyway ).

Where it’s been implemented, Texas for example, don’t seem to be doing a very good job of keeping people at home. Closing down all the ‘non-essential’ businesses has.

I’d like to know just what stock or investment he has in retail lining his pocketbook so much that he’s putting human lives in danger of this virus spreading as it is numbers keep climbing. What’s funding his bank account that he want close down for the safety of every person in Arkansas. Why else would he have to not do the right thing.

No one is following Texas’ order anyway.

You can’t argue with the numbers. On April 1st the total number of projected deaths in the State of Arkansas by the popular Covid19.healthdata.org was “562 by August.” Now, that projected number has dropped all the way to 195 total deaths by August. Anybody that would still say Arkansas is not doing enough or needs to do more is simply not accepting the reality of the situation. Remember when the sick were quarantined? This virus has changed everything.

He needs to keep going like he is right now. Theres no sense in everyone in Arkansas going bankrupt over this. And that’s what is fixing to happen to most people in these mandatory stay at home states. People these days are scared of their own shadows

Yes, no stay at home order needed. We have never closed for any other virus out breaks. There was a lot more school staff and students out sick with the flu. Schools were not closed.

Gazette shouldn’t even be asking this question. They should be citing the POSITIVE numbers from my post above and asking when you think things should start to open up rather than if you think more things should close. Arkansas is much closer to being fully open than fully closed.

Shelter in place is needed. There are so many people that are not taking this serious enough and not following social distancing whatsoever. Shelter in place for a couple weeks and impose strict fines on anyone who doesn’t obey. Simple as that. This is NOT the flu. Cant compare it to such.

You can bet the governor is not going grocery shopping, putting himself in harm’s way.

Asa Hutchison is no better than Trump. They are both out to lunch. Follow their advise and spread the disease.

Nope. This has gone on long enough! People are going broke and our economy is collapsing. Have you idiots seen the parking lots of Walmart, Lowe’s, Target, Dollars Stores?? They are all full! Now let’s stop the crap and get business back open. Everyone can practice being safe, but the country has to get going. Stop the stupidity!

No! If you think you need to stay at home, then by all means do it. But we DO NOT need the government to babysit! Geez

Ok use your sense. Do you have to have someone to tell you what to do?

I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery. — Thomas Jefferson

Yes, I believe Gov. Hutchinson’s course of action has been correct. Use wisdom if you are ill or if you are going to be around vulnerable people.

What is wrong with people that they need the government to tell them what to do?

Issuing a stay at home order could only slow the spread even more which is what we need why settle did anything less?

I mean Texas side is under a shelter in place and it really hasn’t done much for keeping people home so I really don’t see the point!

Doing the right thing!

In my opinion I think a mandatory stay home oder should be in place because no one is taking this crap serious at all

Everyone seems to forget the reason for stay at home orders. It was to slow the spread so that hospitals wouldn’t get overwhelmed, therefore the current measures of social distancing seem to be working well for the state.

We are staying home because we are in our late 60’s with underlying conditions. Thankfully we live in the country on 10 acres. Been busy growing a garden and fixing up stuff. Just keeping busy. Talk to our children and grandchildren about three times a week. Miss them so much. I understand how everyone is feeling, but we need to stay the course for a little longer. Hang in there everyone.