Congressional leaders appear to be on the brink of a COVID-19 economic aid package. Retired Ripon College economist Paul Schoofs says the $900 billion package would revive subsidies for businesses hit hard by the pandemic, and renew soon to expire jobless benefits. Schoofs says the biggest surprise is including new direct payments to most Americans. Unemployment benefits run out December 26 for more than 10 million people. Many businesses are barely hanging on after nine months of the pandemic.
