Who got special deals in the stimulus and why they got them – By Caitlin Emma, Jennifer Scholtes, and Theodore Meyer (Politico) / March 26 2020
In the $2 trillion package, senators took care of their home state industries and pet projects.
In the race to save the economy and pass the largest economic rescue package in American history, Congress still found a way to do some old-fashioned home state favors and reward key special interests.
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) managed to successfully push a minimum assistance figure for every state — $1.5 billion — to make sure small states like his weren’t left out in the legislation.
A provision for the FDA to approve “innovative” sunscreens—that happen to be made in Florence, Ky., by L’Oreal—appeared in the bill, which was steered in the Senate by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
The gaming industry wasn’t left out either: Casinos will be able to tap government loans for disaster assistance, a payback after casinos were blocked from receiving tax breaks extended to other businesses after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Continue to article: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/26/stimulus-coronavirus-special-deals-151108
