The group of Republican senators who proposed a $ 618 million package of aid for the $ 618 million pandemic met with President Joe Biden this Monday afternoon to discuss the project that is considering direct payments and aid funds lower than those they raised Democratic leaders with.
One of the fundamental changes of the Republican proposal is the money of the aid checks: it is proposed that they be awarded $ 1,000, instead of the 1,400 proposed Biden, for individuals making less than $ 50,000 per year and families making less than $ 150,000. From there, the amount of the payment is reduced.
The White House is ready to discuss a reduction in stimulus controls, a senior official told CNN, but don’t cut on unemployment benefits or funds for the safe reopening of schools.
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The Republican senators who met Biden this afternoon in the White House Oval Office were Susan Collins of Maine; Lisa Murkowski, for Alaska; Mitt Romney, for Utah; Bill Cassidy, for Louisiana; Rob Portman, for Ohio; Shelley Moore Capito, for West Virginia; Todd Young, for Indiana; Jerry Moran, for Kansas; Mike Rounds, for South Dakota; and Thom Tillis, for North Carolina.
Biden greeted lawmakers in the Oval Office, joking that he felt like he was “back in the Senate.” when they started the private session.
He and Vice President Kamala Harris heard arguments from Republicans in favor of a smaller and more targeted COVID aid package, which does not include many of the Democratic priorities, but can count on the support of the Republican Party and call on their efforts to move forward. unite. the country.
Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, who is leading the group, called the meeting “a very helpful and frank discussion”, in brief comments he made to the White House press.
[Los demócratas se preparan para impulsar el paquete de ayuda por la pandemia sin los republicanos]
“It was a very good exchange of views. I wouldn’t say we reached an agreement on the package tonight. Nobody expected that,” said Collins. “But what we do agree is to follow up and talk more.”
Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, however, was less optimistic that the Democrats would accept what the Republicans said. “They must negotiate with us, not offer to accept or leave itSchumer said on Sunday in an interview with the Daily News. The senator, as leader of the chamber, has weight when it comes to deciding the topics to be discussed.
Schumer pointed out a serious defect: The Republican offer lacks the federal help it has been asking for months for pandemic-stricken state and local governments.
The Republican proposal, that boils down to $ 618 billion, represents only one-third of the $ 1.9 trillion stimulus plan that the Democrat requested from Congress. The official said that while the Biden administration is open to that its aid package is less, but not the proposed amount.
Negotiations in the White House for a two-pronged agreement
The invitation to the White House came hours after lawmakers sent Biden a letter urging him to negotiate rather than try to pass his aid package through only Democratic votes in Congress, which have a majority in the House and the Senate.
The goal is that said aid plan will be approved before March, when the additional unemployment and other aid due to the pandemic ends. Monday’s meeting marks the president’s largest public participation in the negotiations for the next round of aid because of the pandemic.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Sunday that Biden had spoken with the group’s leader, Senator Susan Collins. Although Biden wants to “a full exchange of views”, Psaki reiterated the president’s support for a far-reaching aid package.
As leading economists have said: the danger now is in not doing too much: it is in doing too little“said Psaki.” Americans from both sides hope that their leaders will rise on the occasion, ”he added.
What does the Republican proposal entail?
The proposal of this group includes senators $ 160,000 million for vaccine development and distribution, testing and tracking, treatments and supplies, including the manufacture and mass distribution of personal protective equipment.
[Un juez federal bloquea de forma temporal la orden de Biden que paralizaba las deportaciones por 100 días]
The package also reserves resources to upgrade intensive care units in hospitals (132,000 million), support for childcare and feeding programs (about 32,000 million in total) and for small shops (50,000 million).
Schools would also receive money to reopen their doors safely, according to the detail released by Republicans on Monday.
The Republican counter-proposal also includes 4 billion to support mental health and substance abuse treatments; a new round of direct payments for “the families most in need of help”; and more federal unemployment benefits.
While Biden’s original plan was to send checks for $ 1,400 to individuals with incomes up to $ 75,000 per year and couples earning up to $ 150,000, Senator Rob Portman noted that the proposal would lower that threshold to $ 50,000 for individuals and $ 100,000 for couples. The checks would be $ 1,000, according to Senator Bill Cassidy.
The need for a two-pronged agreement
“If no two-pronged compromise can be found in it [ayuda por el] COVID-19, I don’t know where to find it, ” said Rob Portman, Republican Senator from Ohio.
For Biden, get it the support of 10 Republicans in the Senate, it’s important as it’s split 50-50, with the vice president, Kamala Harris, as the one responsible for breaking the tie.
If all Democrats backed this bill, it would have a total of 60 votes: the votes needed to overcome the filibuster mechanism (filibuster, in English). It is a political procedure used in the Senate to block unwanted laws or appointments by those in the minority.
“Our proposal reflects many of your stated priorities, and with your support, we believe this plan could be quickly approved by Congress on the basis of a dual supportRepublican senators wrote in a joint statement.
Biden also spoke with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Sunday, who are facing increasing pressure from more liberal Democratic members to push Biden’s legislation through. with or without the support of the Republicans.
[Por qué los presidentes usan tantos bolígrafos para firmar sus órdenes ejecutivas]
“We’re going to wait to work with the Republicans. But right now this country is facing an unprecedented series of crises,” Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders told ABC News.
With information from CNN, Daily News, AP and NBC News.