Prisons, border wall: How GOP is looking to use COVID money

Democrats also are using the cash to fund their priorities, including expanding Medicaid benefits, putting in place a child tax credit and offering $4 billion in debt forgiveness for farmers of color.

Democrats use the money to provide food and medicines.

Alabama lawmakers are advancing a plan to use $400 million of the state's share toward building prisons in what Gov. Kay Ivey says is a great deal for taxpayers. In Texas, a Republican-led county is sending deputies to assist police along the U.S.-Mexico border and pledged to help Gov. Greg Abbott revive former President Donald Trump's plans for a border wall.

Republican use it to take food and medicine away from people.

Nothing new!!

ward building prisons

The far right recognize US prisons are nasty places, and with the likelihood (though small) many of some of the far right's biggest backers, including The Proud Boys, Boogaloo Boys, various KKK factions and other extremists welcomed under the QGOP big tent, might face prison time for Jan. 6th, the extremist's favorite politicians might want to build more country club prisons to accomodate their base If justice is eventually served (also highly unlikely) If Trump is convicted then maybe some even cushier ones could be built, perhaps a prison where he can get his Big Macs 24/7, and have one of his beauticians on hand to recolor and style the non-organic stuff on top of his head..

Though building prisons might be understandable for the GOP. many of them are going to end up there.

The criminality understand the former guy’s administration was breathtaking!!!

*under the former guy’s administration

Not sure what's wrong with using the funds to secure the border when illegals are pouring across and spreading COVID.

And the Swamp is colorblind, so yes, corruption afflicts Republicans, too, just look at some Senators and Governors as prime examples.

Sounds to me like they’re enforcing the law and tackling crime.

Mmm totally. Isn't it odd that the "land of the free" locks so many people up?

Sounds to me like an expanded welfare state,

Because God forbid people are actually able to afford medical care.

Not sure what's wrong with using the funds to secure the border when illegals are pouring across and spreading COVID.

For some confused people Covid is only an issue and danger when immigrants are bringing it.

Sounds to me like an expanded welfare state,

So providing healthcare to poor people is a welfare state but providing tax cuts to the rich is not.

Sounds to me like they’re enforcing the law and tackling crime.

Taking food and healthcare away from the poor is enforcing the law.

Wonderful dear sir!!!!

States can do what they want, right?

that was the story whenever they defied the orange dotard.

States can do what they want, right?

Sure. And we can criticize them for their stupid decisions.

Ok but there is really nothing you can do about it except complain. Or use this as a distraction from the total civil war that had crippled the Democrat party.

at least Republicans can reasonably agree how to spend money to support their voter priorities. not just frozen, doing nothing for the people like Dems.

Ok but there is really nothing you can do about it except complain

ope, got me there.

at least Republicans can reasonably agree how to spend money to support their voter priorities. 

Yes, at least Republicans can agree to spend money on building prisons. That's not reasonable, but Republicans do indeed agree on that. Great job. Imagine building more prisons to lock people up is your priority over making sure people have healthcare.

It’s not a binary choice. We can have prisons and healthcare.

hey we can even have healthcare in prison.

It’s all up to the Biden Administration if we have affordable healthcare or not.

But seems he has other priorities and can’t get out of how own way with controversy and scandal. Governing is hard.

It’s not a binary choice. We can have prisons and healthcare

It is when Republican states are prioritizing building new prisons over expanding healthcare.

hey we can even have healthcare in prison.

Cool, maybe we can just lock everyone up and provide them with healthcare. How about that?

But now that Republican governors and local leaders have the money in hand, they are using it for things on their wish lists, too.

Uh-oh....get ready for more tax handouts to the Top 1%, new walls around confederate monuments, and subsidies for AR 15s and tin foil (to line MAGA hats)...

States can do what they want, right?

that was the story whenever they defied the orange dotard.

Yup, and if they do stupid things, they can be criticized for it, Orange dotard or no.

It is no surprise that politicians will use pork to look good in the eyes of their voters. You only have to look at the late Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia. Wikipedia has a page devoted to everything named after him, from the Robert C. Byrd Metals Fabrication Center to the Robert C. Byrd Addition to the Lodge at Oglebay Park.

All the more reason to kill the current 3.5 trillion dollar boondoggle.

Democrats use the money to provide food and medicines.

Chicago, Baltimore, Detroit and Oakland didn’t get any.

Republican use it to take food and medicine away from people.

Nothing new!!

Liberals are the very last people to talk about taking something away from anyone. They’re taking away the most precious thing to all Americans and that’s freedom.

Like in States like Texas which have taken away the women's right and freedom to choose what happens with her body.

Another way to look at this is Texas has just given a baby the right to choose what happens to her body.

It is when Republican states are prioritizing building new prisons over expanding healthcare.

thought Obamacare was all good? If not then Biden can handle it. Since when have states been responsible for “healthcare”?

Decrying a “defund the police, soft on crime” liberal agenda, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced $1,000 bonuses for first responders paid for with the relief money. 

Well, that's interesting - how many Trump supporters here agree with him that Dem Stacy Abrams would be a better Governor than Repub Kemp?

The former President's criticism of Kemp now includes hyping Democrat Stacey Abrams as a preferable alternative to the GOP governor, whose crime against Trump was staying out of his attempt to overturn the Georgia 2020 election returns.

*"Having her, I think, might be better than having your existing governor, if you want to know what I think," **Trump said Saturday at his rally in Perry...*

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/09/28/politics/trump-georgia-stacey-abrams-brian-kemp/index.html

Liberals are the very last people to talk about taking something away from anyone. They’re taking away the most precious thing to all Americans and that’s freedom.

Should they take away American's health care instead, like Trump and cronies tried?

Like in States like Texas which have taken away the women's right and freedom to choose what happens with her body.

They didn’t, they just decided that a child’s life matters as well and if are that serious about getting an abortion then drive to another state.

Agreed! Just look at how liberals have been restricting voter rights

Absolutely not even close to the truth.

and passing laws to prevent women from choosing what to do with their bodies!

But it’s ok to push me to get jabbed. Give me a break.

thought Obamacare was all good?

nonsense. You never thought Obamacare was "all good." Your republicans fought at every turn to get rid of it

If not then Biden can handle it. Since when have states been responsible for “healthcare”?

Apparently you don't know how medicare/medicaid work,

But it’s ok to push me to get jabbed. Give me a break.

Indeed. This guy is "pushing you to get jabbed" - he said the vaccine is safe and effective - and made a special appeal to his supporters like you to get vaccinated....

I would recommend it," Mr Trump said during an interview on Fox News Primetime on Tuesday. "I would recommend it to a lot of people that don't want to get it and a lot of those people voted for me, frankly." He added: **"It's a great vaccine*, it's a safe vaccine and it's something that works.

Why don't you believe him? Aren't you outraged he is recommending people take this unsafe vaccine? Why is he "pushing" his supporters to "get jabbed" and harm themselves?

But it’s ok to push me to get jabbed. Give me a break.

Wish you would.

Apparently you don't know how medicare/medicaid work,

2 second Google search-

Medicare is a federal program. It is basically the same everywhere in the United States and is run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, an agency of the federal government.

Medicaid is of course jointly run/funded but restricted by federal requirements.

Yeah! Just drive to another state.

Yes, you can’t change the law so either drive to another state.

It’s not as if there are people without cars or Texas is the second largest state.

This is the 21st century, we have many forms of transportation.

Wish you would.

No need to.

Democrats focus on investing in the best of society. Republicans focus on punishing the worst of society*.

Bass: This is the 21st century, we have many forms of transportation.

Sounds good. Let's apply the same thinking to gun shops. Don't ban them, just restrict them so it's easier to go out of state to get one.

There are many forms of transportation.

Medicaid is of course jointly run/funded but restricted by federal requirements.

That is the baseline, yes, but as the article clearly indicates; states determine eligibility requirements etc. Texas, for example, refused to expand Medicaid programs, funded through federal tax dollars, to uninsured Texans.

As we can see, you were wrong when you claimed:

Since when have states been responsible for “healthcare”?

States obviously have a lot of say in determining how Medicare/Medicaid are implemented and who they cover. Unsurprisingly, Republicans aren't actually interested in making sure people get healthcare.

Democrats focus on investing in the best of society.

Then why do their biggest cities look like crap and have the highest crime rates?

Republicans focus on punishing the worst of society*.

Yes, even the mafia said so, they hated Republicans more because they believed in the rule of law.

having a "lot of say" as long as you follow the restrictions of another is not "responsible for".

But thats ok, its clear that states can do whatever they want to satisfy their own constituents.

They have no obligation whatsoever to spend the money in the way Biden or Obama would want it spent.

This high amount of violent crime (that Biden is doing nothing about) seems to have become a state priority until something is done about it from the federal level.

Democrats focus on investing in the best of society.

wasnt there a promised vote on that today that didnt happen? that was delayed from this Monday's promised vote?

having a "lot of say" as long as you follow the restrictions of another is not "responsible for".

Lmao you're making a distinction without a difference. As I've already explained, states play a large hand in how these programs are implemented from state to state. At any rate, thank you for admitting you really don't know how these programs work.

They have no obligation whatsoever to spend the money in the way Biden or Obama would want it spent.

Lol Who made that claim? I've been very clear: It says a sad lot about Republicans when they prioritize building prisons over expanding access to healthcare for residents. This is especially true in the midst of a pandemic.

dont you think its clear that even Democrats dont agree on what Democrats think is the "best of society"?

mass confusion and civil war, where are these "adults in charge" that were promised?

"It is an absurd way to do business, to be negotiating a multi-trillion dollar bill a few minutes before a major vote with virtually nobody knowing what's going on," Sanders said. "That's unacceptable. And I think what has got to happen is that tonight, the bipartisan infrastructure bill must be defeated. And we can sit down and work out a way to pass both pieces of legislation."

>

 This is especially true in the midst of a pandemic.

What pandemic? If there were a pandemic, hospitals would not be firing medical professionals. Sporting events would not have 100,000 maskless fans in attendance. Liberal media would not already be praising Biden for the decrease in COVID cases and deaths.

"muh the pandemic" is no longer a suitable excuse for the incompetence of government.

Sounds to me like an expanded welfare state, getting as many people off taxes as possible

oh like the GQP trillion tax cut for the rich!?

What pandemic? If there were a pandemic, hospitals would not be firing medical professionals.

Nonsense. Medical staff are fired for non-compliance, even in pandemics. What, do you think a nurse wouldn't be fired for showing up drunk in a pandemic? Of course they would. Likewise, if you refuse to follow your employer's vaccination policies, you get what you get.

"muh the pandemic" is no longer a suitable excuse for the incompetence of government.

Rather rich coming from a Trump supporter. Tell me, how competent was his handling of the pandemic? Don't go there.

This high amount of violent crime (that Biden is doing nothing about) seems to have become a state priority until something is done about it from the federal level.

oh like the crime that spiked in 2020 under Trump and is easing again in 2021

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-murders-soar-nearly-30-2020-fbi-reports-2021-09-28/

The unborn fetus is not a child.

That is your opinion

Termination up to 20 weeks is acceptable as in Roe vs Wade. Texas women are denied their full rights to decide.

Go to a different State or try using contraceptives unless it’s a rape or incest, don’t make excuses.

But people in Texas can decide whether to be vaccinated or not, their bodies, etc.,

Not government employees.

oh like the crime that spiked in 2020 under Trump and is easing again in 2021

Easing Mostly in the urban White red States or Silicone Valley blue States

A fetus that is not viable outside the womb is not a human, it’s a parasite.

Ok, I think differently.

Actually, in Texas, there are 18,000 reported rapes

Reported and how many were verified as factual? How many became pregnant, what percentage? Which study and which stat?

which probably represent less than 5% of the real numbers since the majority of women are afraid to report their rapes.

So then you really don’t know. You’re just once again pulling numbers out of a hat? Why?

you can have an opinion but are not qualified to say whether a woman needs an abortion or not.

Nor can you.

That needs, a doctor. Two as well.

Adoption is also an option

I search for facts, not opinions

As do I We both agree on something for once. But I’m also allowed to voice my personal opinion as well

How about a compromise?

I grant that women who are victims of crime such as rape and incest should be allowed to terminate their pregnancies as soon as they find out they are pregnant.

In other cases, abortion is not allowed without the life of the mother being threatened by carrying on the pregnancy.

Agreed?

I grant that women who are victims of crime such as rape and incest should be allowed to terminate their pregnancies as soon as they find out they are pregnant.

I wouldn’t object to that. My objection stems from people saying the fetus is not a life which is the reason for the implementation of this law in Texas

In other cases, abortion is not allowed without the life of the mother being threatened by carrying on the pregnancy.

I agree as well.

All denied by the state of Texas and others too.

That is the choice of Texas