In a final insult to the residents of the 3rd Congressional District, outgoing Congressman Dan Lipinski, in the last week of his Congressional career and after he had given his farewell speech, was one of only two Democrats who voted against providing $2,000 stimulus checks to Americans. The money would offer the twin benefits of helping people pay bills during the time of COVID-19 and stimulating the economy. Even 44 Republicans voted with the Democrats on the checks that President Donald Trump himself called for. But not good old Dan, the “Democrat” who felt he had to out-Republican both the 44 and the president himself by voting no.
How mean and cynical for Lipinski to cast such a cruel vote when he no longer will even be in office. It would have been both proper and easy for him to vote for it, to do the right thing and the kind thing. Instead, he supposedly voted against the stimulus because it would be “ineffective” (we, however, think that $2,000 would have a lot of effect on everyone in this community) and it would add to the U.S. public debt—which Lipinski added to plenty since he entered Congress in 2005.
Voting to deny all of us money we desperately need is a final affront, and shows the people of the 3rd District that they couldn’t have been more correct in defeating him in the Democratic primary and electing progressive Marie Newman in the general election. Lipinski will not be missed, and may he never run for any office again. If he does, we’ll be ready to remind the voters of his sorry record of opposing their best interests, including voting against healthcare coverage during the Obamacare debate and desperately needed monetary support now.
