By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

The birds are chirping. Balls are clanking off basketball rims and all that snow disappeared almost as fast as it arrived.

But for many other reasons, this spring could feel even more amazing after such a horrible, no good, rotten year that we all suffered through.

In just a matter of weeks, Americans everywhere are feeling a sense of relief as the number of COVID-19 deaths continues to plummet and the number of vaccines administered in the U.S. per day continues to climb into the millions.

That alone is a reason to cautiously celebrate. But there’s more. Much, much more.

Beginning this week, many Americans will begin receiving stimulus checks from the government in what is being viewed (in its totality) as the biggest infusion of cash into the American economy that we will likely ever see in our lifetimes.

If you pay taxes, you will likely receive $1,400 from the government. A family of four will see checks for $5,600 dollars.

But wait, there’s more.

The American Rescue Plan, signed into law this week, is viewed as historic and transformational in terms of its potential.

The $1.9 trillion plan also includes an expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), nearly tripling the maximum EITC for childless workers. 

The plan also includes relief for small businesses, more assistance for states and local government and offers to cover COBRA insurance premiums for six months for the unemployed.

That summary barely scratches the surface. For a deeper look, click here.

Some experts predict the legislation could lift a large segment of children out of poverty, but only time will tell if that is the case.

For now, though, we’re on the verge of seeing a pent-up American economy begin to flourish.

After what was clearly the worst year of our lives for many, the reversal could be astounding.

Families will suddenly have a few thousand dollars to work with. Many who are behind on rent and struggling to pay bills should be able to begin to catch up. For others, like myself, it’s a chance to make house repairs and take a vacation and go have fun.

What we will see in the next year is probably the biggest gamble the American economy has ever seen. Critics say all this new potential spending could overheat the economy and cause inflation. They say much of the money is misdirected. Others worry about the snowballing debt.

As you know by now, the legislation passed without any Republican support as President Joe Biden chose to Go Big and Go Alone. But while every Republican lawmaker voted against it, a large majority of people seem to support it.

With such a gargantuan move, Biden is rolling the dice. If the American economy gets rolling, he’ll get the credit. If it backfires, it could hamstring his presidency and he could end up like Jimmy Carter.

Republicans are in a tough spot right now. They’re still stinging from Biden’s victory and now the economy is on the verge of shifting into high gear. I understand that kind of frustration.

But regardless of your political stripes, this is a historic moment and I hope we can all set aside our differences, give Biden a chance and pull together in an attempt to return to normal.

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OVERDOSES AND SUICIDES – The pandemic has been tough on our collective mental health, which led me to wonder how that translated into the number of suicides and overdoses in Kosciusko County. Surprisingly, the numbers reported by Kosciusko County Coroner Tony Ciriello are not much different than in recent years.

Here is the breakdown provided by the coroner:

2020 – seven overdose deaths and three suicides

2019 – nine overdose deaths and four suicides

2018 – 13 overdose deaths and four suicides

2017 – seven overdose deaths and two suicides

2016 – 17 overdose deaths and five suicides

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GOP EVENTS – The annual Lincoln Day Dinner will be on June 3 at the Owl’s Nest in North Webster. Former Ambassador Kip Tom and U.S. Sen. Todd Young will be the featured speakers.

Republicans will also host two fish fries this year that will offer both drive-through and a chance to dine-in. Look for more details soon.

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Dan Spalding is the editor at InkFreeNews.com.
He covers city government and politics and always welcomes your input.