Other Views: Much of this spending blowout is pork

“Much of this is pork. The biggest fiasco is another round of checks — this time $600 — to most Americans who earn up to $100,000. This will have little or no economic impact since it won’t change incentives; it also isn’t focused on the neediest. ... Another blunder is three more months of $300 in federal enhanced weekly unemployment benefits. This plus-up will allow half or so of workers to earn more by not working and slow the labor market recovery once the vaccine rollout gets underway since they will have less incentive to find work. (Republican) leaders are hoping this spending blowout will help their two incumbents in the Georgia Senate runoffs on Jan. 5. It had better, because this is merely for three months and Democrats are viewing it merely as a down payment on trillions more next year.”

Robert VerBruggen, National Review:

“The compromise also allows businesses to fully deduct the costs of meals provided at company expense — the ‘three-martini-lunch’ deduction. (For decades, the deduction has been limited to 50% of the amount spent.) ... A more permissive rule will make it easier to pass off personal consumption as a business expense. The bill also provides some money for schools and vaccinations and extends the eviction moratorium. ... This is not a perfect compromise ... but it’s good enough.”

Conor Sen, Bloomberg:

“It’s no surprise that sending checks to households using political language like ‘direct relief to working families’ has become a policy tool gaining support with members of Congress in both parties. If there’s anything that unites the suburban voter, it’s consumption. ... Fiscal policy favoring Georgia and Arizona rather than Iowa and Ohio is neither good nor bad. It’s just a new electoral reality. But fiscal policy favoring tens of millions of households rather than just a few industries concentrated in a handful of states is unquestionably a good thing for all Americans. So when the next round of checks comes in the mail, thank your nearest suburban Atlanta voter.”