Despite John McCain Missing the Vote, More than 14 Million Californians to Get Relief from Economic Stimulus Package

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

The signing today of the bipartisan economic stimulus bill spearheaded by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi means that 14,700,000 families in California will receive tax rebates of up to $1,200 per couple, plus $300 per child as early as mid-May. While most of Washington, D.C. came together to provide much needed assistance to the many California families struggling to cope with higher cost of living expenses, stagnating wages, job losses and a mortgage crisis that threatens the economic security of countless Californians, one Republican in Washington was too worried about his presidential campaign to show up for a crucial vote.
 
Last week Republican frontrunner John McCain -- who recently told reporters he "doesn't really understand economics" -- was too busy campaigning and too afraid to alienate the right wing of his party to vote on a key element of the stimulus package. Despite being just miles from the capitol building, and despite the fact that fellow senators who traveled with him on the campaign trail made it back to the Senate in time to vote, McCain was the only senator to miss a vote on whether to improve the economic stimulus package by adding assistance for 20 million seniors and 250,000 disabled veterans to the package. Because of McCain's absence, the measure fell one vote short.
 
By getting money into the hands of America's families and small businesses, the plan is expected to add 500,000 jobs to the economy.  The plan will provide a tax rebate for the low and middle-income families who are being hit hardest by the economic downturn. More than 130 million families, including 35 million families across the country who have jobs but make too little to pay income taxes will receive a tax rebate. The plan will also provide recovery rebate checks to 28 million households of senior citizens and disabled veterans.

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