Chicago City Wire

Fiscal government watchdog Wirepoints is pointing out the numbers simply don’t add up when it comes to the government’s American Rescue Plan.

“Illinois revenues have declined less than 1% ($400 million) when compared to 2019, showing that COVID’s impact on Illinois finances wasn’t as bad as early projections,” the organization recently posted to Twitter. “However, the bailout bill will give Illinois $13.5 billion in COVID relief.”

With the measure having already passed the Senate along partisan lines and expected to go back before the House in the coming days, Republicans argue only 9% of the plans’ $141 trillion price tag is directly pegged for COVID-19 relief.

Still, Congressional leaders are looking to quickly get the bill in front of President Joe Biden in hopes that he’ll be able to sign off on it before March 14, the date when current enhanced unemployment benefits are set to expire.