Representative Paul Gosar of Arizona has proposed that the federal government pay stimulus checks of $10,000 to Americans beleaguered by the coronavirus pandemic, adopting an approach that would prioritize direct payments to individuals over payments to state and local governments. Gosar’s Amendment, offered on Friday night, would also replace payments to extend federal unemployment benefits.

Only 9% of Pelosi’s $1.9 trillion “plan” is related to COVID-19.

I offered an amendment providing $10k stimulus to Americans most affected by COVID-19 & lockdowns.

Democrats chose foreign aid, Big Tech transit, and Pelosi’s political priorities over direct relief for Americans. pic.twitter.com/RzXos92QW7

— Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS (@RepGosar) February 27, 2021

As the American Rescue Plan currently stands, $1,400 stimulus checks to American taxpayers who filed less than $75,000 in income in 2018 make up $422 billion- a mere 22% of the total spending in the relief package. Gosar’s proposal would replace much of the questionable spending with direct relief.

If the federal government intends to go ‘all-in’ on deficit spending in response to the coronavirus recession, Gosar’s proposal would ensure that the money is spent directly on the livelihood of American taxpayers. Less than half of the spending of Biden’s stimulus is directly targeted towards taxpayers, with education, energy, transport and state governments receiving almost as much money as the American people under Biden’s $1.9 trillion plan.

(Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget)

Biden’s pork proposal can easily be retooled to prioritize direct spending to Americans, be it in the shape of stimulus checks or buffed unemployment benefits to Americans who have lost their jobs in the recession. Instead, the establishment Democrat has opted to prioritize payments to powerful lobby groups and corporate institutions.

The American Rescue Plan passed the House in a Friday night vote. Should the massive spending package fail to pass the Senate in budget reconciliation, congressional leaders may be left with no choice but to consider proposals such as Gosar that replace federal spending with direct relief to the American people.

Follow me on Gab @WildmanAZ, Twitter @Wildman_AZ, and on Parler @Moorhead.