Bernie Sanders says Democrats have votes to pass Covid-19 relief bill through reconciliation

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“I think so,” said the new chairman of the Senate Budget Committee when asked in an interview with ABC if he thought there were enough Democratic votes.

“We will all have differences of opinion, this is a $ 1.9 trillion bill, I have differences and concerns about this bill, but at the end of the day we will support the president from the United States, ”Sanders added.

Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said Democrats would use the move to pass the package by 51 votes in the Senate, instead of 60, if Republicans do not propose the legislation.

Republicans used the reconciliation process when they tried to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act in 2017 in the Senate. The GOP successfully used the process months later to revise the country’s tax code, which passed with only Republican votes.
Bigger stimulus checks, more help for the unemployed, the hungry and those at risk of eviction, more support for small businesses, states and local governments, and increased funding for vaccinations and tests are key elements of a $ 1.9 trillion proposal that President Joe Biden unveiled earlier. month.
Billed as the US bailout, the package increases many measures in March’s landmark $ 3 trillion coronavirus relief bill and in December’s $ 900 billion legislation, which was slashed. to garner the support of Senate Republicans.

Asked about Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who said over the weekend that they would seek a bipartisan way to deal with the relief bill, Sanders said he was still “absolutely convinced” that there were enough votes for the reconciliation process. .

Democrats have been criticized for ignoring bipartisanship so early in the Biden administration. Sanders addressed this issue and said there were opportunities for bipartisanship in the future, including on infrastructure, but the pandemic was too urgent.

“We’re going to look forward to working with Republicans, but right now this country is facing an unprecedented series of crises,” he said.

The Vermont senator hasn’t ruled out working with Republicans, but said he hasn’t heard better ideas from them so far.

“If the Republicans want to work with us, they have better ideas of how to deal with these crises, that’s great. But to be honest with you, I haven’t heard that yet,” Sanders said.

His comments come the same day that a group of 10 Republican senators called on Biden to lend support to their own Covid-19 relief package framework.

Senators said their framework includes a total of $ 160 billion for vaccine development and distribution, testing and tracing, and treatment and supplies, including the production and deployment of personal protective equipment. .

It would also include a new round of out-of-pocket payments for “families most in need of help,” expand federal unemployment benefits to current levels and provide $ 4 billion to boost behavioral health and substance abuse.

An aide familiar with the process told CNN the plan is expected to be between $ 500 billion and $ 600 billion, though lawmakers are still waiting to hear from the Congressional Budget Office on the estimated cost.

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