Ohio Sen. Rob Portman
Robert (Rob) Jones PortmanSunday Show Preview: New COVID-19 Variants Distributed in US; Redditors Shake Wall Street With Gamestop Stocks The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented By Facebook – Which Way Will Democrats Take With The COVID-19 Bill? Democrats are poised to bypass Republicans on COVID-19 relief bill MORE (R) said on Sunday that the Republicans will push the Biden administration to target direct payments to Americans earning less than $ 50,000 a year in the upcoming COVID-19 stimulus package.
Speak with Dana Bash
Dana BashBiden’s bipartisan push hits wall on COVID-19 relief law Senators spar over validity of Trump impeachment trial Sunday shows – Biden agenda, Trump impeachment trial dominates MORE on CNN’s “ State of the Union ”, outgoing senator called on Democrats not to push the White House’s COVID-19 framework through Congress through the budget reconciliation process, which could allow a simple majority vote for approval votes, and a smaller stimulus package.
“I hope the president will meet with us,” Portman said, adding that the Republicans have had little success in their attempts to meet with the Biden administration to present their priorities for the next stimulus package.
“No one has been consulted about this, including the Democrats in our bipartisan group that drafted the previous legislation, and frankly, we haven’t gotten much response until today,” he added.
Bash then asked how many Republicans would be willing to spend on a COVID-19 stimulus package, noting that a letter sent Sunday by Sen. Susan Collins
Susan Margaret Collins Biden rekindles immigration fight in Congress Paul says Roberts’ absence ‘crystallizes’ argument against Trump impeaching Democrats ready to bypass Republicans on COVID-19 emergency MOREThe (R-Maine) office and signed by Portman did not put an exact dollar amount on the GOP proposal.
It will be less than $ 1.9 [trillion] because much of what the administration has released has nothing to do with COVID-19, ”responded Portman.
Let’s focus. We really want to help those who need it most, ”he continued, adding that Democrats should not“ poison the source ”by pushing the plan through without Republican votes.
“It is not in the interests of the Democratic Party to do that,” he said.
Congressional Democrats and Republicans got together in December and pushed through a smaller stimulus package that included an expansion of federal unemployment benefits and $ 600 direct payments to individual American adults.