A big ol' shout-out to Del. Plaskett

Because good God, Grothman had it coming

Today’s shero, and maybe tomorrow’s as well

In a Wednesday debate about the $1.9 trillion stimulus plan, U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wisc.) expressed concern about the legislation’s expansion of the earned income tax credit, and said this:

I bring it up because I know the strength that Black Lives Matter had in this last election. I know it's a group that doesn't like the old-fashioned family — (I am) disturbed that we have another program here in which we're increasing the marriage penalty.

Yes. He said that. Fortunately, while the chamber wasn’t full, Del. Stacey Plaskett, one of the impeachment managers, was there to answer. Among other things, she said:

We have been able to keep our families alive for over 400 years, and the assault on our families to not have Black lives or not even have Black families. How dare you say that we are not interested in families in the Black community. That is outrageous. That should be stricken down.

Plaskett represents the Virgin Islands, and I am sad that her voting, as a representative of a U.S. territory, is limited.

The American Plan Rescue Act of 2021 would, No. 1…

…allow 17-year-old children to qualify. Second, it would increase the credit to $3,000 per child ($3,600 per child under age 6) for many families. Third, it would remove the $2,500 earnings floor. Fourth, it would make the credit fully refundable. And fifth, it would allow half of the credit to be paid in advance by having the IRS send periodic payments to families from July 2021 to December 2021.

The expansion could lift millions of children out of poverty. The law passed without a single, solitary Republican vote.