As Americans begin receiving stimulus checks, there are concerns that funding will run out for the small business emergency loan program. Central New York Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) said it’s the highest priority right now to not let that fund go empty.
“Because it’s working,” Katko said. “You want to give small businesses the confidence. You want to give the markets the confidence that it’s going to be well-funded and it’s going to work, going forward.”
Katko said Republicans want to add $250 billion to the program, but Democrats want to include more funding for hospitals and the states. He said both sides need to bend and he’s hoping a bill can be passed this week.
Now that former Vice President Joe Biden is the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, Katko is weighing in on Biden. Katko has previously said he will vote for President Donald Trump in the fall. He said he’s very concerned Biden has been pulled too far to the left in the Democratic primaries, citing Biden’s support for lowering the age of eligibility for Medicare from 65 to 60.
“For a program that in four years is going to be bankrupt,” Katko said. “That’s before this crisis started. That’s probably going to be accelerated.”
Katko said Biden is a fine man and a good guy. But Katko said he is also a little concerned that Biden has "lost his fastball a little bit."
