Blog

Week number 53 means we are into the 2nd year of Covid-19. Does it feel like a year? Has our perception of time changed? Do we have better visibility into life after Covid-19? When will we be done with the pandemic? How will we look back at this last year? The answers to these questions, as well as many more will be forthcoming.

After a significant amount of wrangling, wheeling and dealing, the Senate agreed on the Biden Administration’s rescue package initially passed by the House including a $15 minimum wage stripped from the bill in the Senate. Expectations are that the bill will be passed in the House with no changes and sent to President Biden for his signature.

A couple of concerns on our minds this week. First, as my wife and I are poised to receive our 2nd dose of the Moderna vaccine soon. While we wait, we are contemplating how this will impact our behavior.

Last week on the SAS blog, we discussed Covid Relief and the Economy.

Covid Relief Path and the Economy

Top Biden administration agenda items: first is the $1.9T Covid rescue package. The Democrats are moving ahead using a process called reconciliation that allows them to pass legislation with no Republican support. Just as the national recovery letter shape is a "K" so is the state/municipal recovery.

This week we have the historic 2nd impeachment trial beginning.

Fiscal Relief 

Bipartisanship was tested in the discussions this week between a group of 10 Republican Senators and President Biden to discuss their proposal for fiscal relief.

This is the first week in office for President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris since their inauguration January 20th, 2021.

Headlines

Wednesday, January 20th - today is inauguration day. There are enormous challenges facing the new administration. Managing the pandemic, reviving the economy for those who have suffered, racial justice, climate change and healing the divisions in our country. The goals are set high for the administration’s first 100 days.

I apologize for the unavoidable dark tone this week. We thought about revising last week’s newsletter in lieu of Wednesday’s violence at the Capitol building in Washington DC, but we figured the impact of this attempt to overthrow a free and fair election would continue in our discussions this week. And we were right.