[ad_1]
President Biden and a group of 10 GOP senators agreed on Monday to hold additional negotiations on coronavirus relief, as they seek to find room to craft a bipartisan deal.
The group of Republicans met with Biden at the White House on Monday for about two hours, much longer than both sides had expected the meeting to last.
His. Susan collins
Susan Margaret Collins Biden Meets GOP Senators Monday On Coronavirus Relief Biden Invites GOP Senators To White House For Relief Talks President Has Changed, But Washington Has No MORE (R-Maine), who took the initiative in trying to negotiate a deal, called the meeting “very productive” and “cordial.”
“It was a very good exchange of views. I wouldn’t say we got together on a bundle tonight, nobody expected it in a two hour meeting. But what we have agreed to do is follow up and talk more at the staff level and between us and with the president and the vice president on how we can continue to work together on this very important issue. Collins said outside the White House on Monday night.
The meeting marked Biden’s first visit with lawmakers from the Oval Office, a fact Collins has touted to reporters.
“[It] was a great meeting, and we very much appreciate that in his first official meeting in the Oval Office, the President chose to spend so much time with us in a frank and very helpful discussion, ”she said.
The GOP group took advantage of the business meeting to explain its $ 618 billion coronavirus proposal to Biden, Vice President Harris and his key aides. The White House also provided more details on its $ 1.9 trillion package after senators from both parties insisted on getting more details on how the administration presented its proposal.
Collins – the only GOP senator to speak after the meeting – did not address Democratic leaders’ decision to lay the groundwork this week to pass a coronavirus bill by simple majority, allowing them to bypass the GOP support if they need it.
Instead, she noted that Congress had previously been able to negotiate bipartisan coronavirus relief bills. Many senators were part of the so-called 908 coalition that proposed a framework late last year, which leaders admitted to having broken a deadlock lasting several months.
“We have demonstrated over the past year that we can come together on a bipartisan package. (…) I hope we can once again adopt a sixth bipartisan COVID relief package,” Collins said.
But there are big differences between the package offered by the GOP group and the larger $ 1.9 trillion backed by Democrats.
The GOP proposal includes $ 160 billion in funding for the pandemic response, including protective gear and more money for vaccine distribution. It also extends the federal unemployment benefit by $ 300 per week until June 30.
The bill includes a direct payment of $ 1,000 to Americans, versus a direct payment of $ 1,400 in Biden’s plans, with $ 500 for dependent adults and children. The proposal also lowers the income limit for receiving direct aid.
Under previous coronavirus bills, people earning up to $ 75,000 would receive the check, with the payment amount disappearing afterwards. But under the GOP’s proposal, people who earn up to $ 40,000 would receive a check for $ 1,000, with the amount of the check disappearing altogether to $ 50,000.
It also includes $ 20 billion in additional funding for schools, $ 20 billion in funding for child care, $ 50 billion in additional small business assistance, $ 12 billion in nutrition assistance and $ 4 billion. dollars for behavioral health resources.
But the new chairman of the Senate finance committee Ron Wyden
Ronald (Ron) Lee WydenHillicon Valley: Fallout from Reddit Focused Stock Rallies, GameStop Buy Ban Continues | Lawmakers Grill NSA Over Years-Old Breach Following Massive Russian Hack | Facebook has reportedly considered antitrust lawsuit against Apple lawmakers to grill NSA over years-old violation following massive Russian hack Lawmakers propose bill to repeal SALT deduction cap (D-Ore.) Warned the GOP’s offer didn’t go far enough, anticipating the backlash Biden would be likely to suffer if he agreed to drop significantly.
“The package described by 10 Senate Republicans is far too small to provide the relief the American people need. In particular, a three-month extension of unemployment benefits is a no-starter. … We can’t keep jumping from cliff to cliff every few months, “Wyden said in a statement, adding that” an extension of benefits for at least six months is essential. “
Democrat Sen. Jon tester
Jonathan (Jon) Tester Indigenous Groups Launch Campaign Against ABC Secretary’s Candidate “ Big Sky ” VA Through Confirmation Hearing To Protect Our Parks, Suspend Rental MORE (Mont.), One of the more moderate members of the caucus, also warned that he didn’t think the GOP plan was big enough.
“I think it must be bigger than that. … If we have to come back over and over again, I don’t think it’s good for the economy, I don’t think it’s good for certainty,” Test said.
The meeting comes hours after the Senate majority leader Charles Schumer
Chuck Schumer Congressional Democrats are on the wrong side of impeachment policy Proposal to close the permanent Capitol arouses bipartisan repulsion Immigration reform can’t wait (DN.Y.) and speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiBiden meets with GOP senators on coronavirus relief on Monday Portman says Republican leaders ‘should stand up’ against Greene’s comments Democrats in Congress are on the wrong side of impeachment policy MORE (D-Calif.) Filed a budget resolution that will include instructions to craft a $ 1.9 trillion bill Democrats could pass as part of reconciliation, allowing them to avoid legislative obstruction of 60 votes.
“Democrats welcome the ideas and contributions of our fellow Republican Senate colleagues. The only thing we cannot accept is a package that is too small or too narrow to get our country out of this emergency. We cannot repeat the mistake. of 2009, ”Schumer said from the Senate floor.
[ad_2]
Source link