WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden told Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday that he is “not married” to an absolute number in his $ 1.9 trillion COVID bailout but Congress must “act quickly” in alleviating the pandemic and economic crisis.
Biden also said he does not want to deviate from his proposed $ 1,400 in direct payments promised to Americans. But he said he is willing to “target” the aid, which would mean lowering the income threshold to qualify for the money.
“Look, we’re hurting a lot of people in our country today,” Biden said. ‘We have to do something. We must act quickly. “
Biden said, “I’m not going to start my administration by breaking a promise to the American people.”
He spoke with House Democrats and followed with a White House meeting with top Senate Democrats, deepening his public engagements with lawmakers on pandemic aid and an economic recovery package. Together they are his first legislative priority and a test of the government’s ability to cooperate with Congress.
Biden’s comments to the Democratic House caucus were relayed by two people asking for anonymity to discuss the private conference.
While Biden is trying to build bipartisan support from Republicans, he is also willing to rely on the Democratic majority in Congress to change his top agenda item in legislation. The Republicans objected to the president’s package as outrageous, proposing a $ 618 billion alternative with less direct payments of $ 1,000 and no assistance for states and cities. But Biden placed the GOP package as insufficient, even as he continues private talks with Republicans about possible areas of compromise.
During his meeting with Chuck Schumer, leader of the Senate majority group, and 10 top Senate Democrats in the Oval Office, the president expressed confidence that the aid package would still win GOP votes and be bipartisan.
“I think we’ll get some Republicans,” he said at the start of the meeting.
With a rising number of viruses and a depressed economy, the goal is to have COVID-19 aid approved in March, when additional unemployment benefits and other pandemic relief measures expire. Money for vaccine distribution, direct payments to households, reopening schools and business help are at stake.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the president fully acknowledges that the final package may look different from the one he initially proposed.
She said targeting the $ 1,400 payments “doesn’t mean the size of the check, but the level of income of the people who receive the check.” That’s up for debate, she said.
As lawmakers in Congress begin drafting the details of the package, Biden makes sure to support his allies while ensuring that the final product delivers on its promise of bold relief for a battered nation.
House Democrats were told on the call with the president that they could be flexible regarding some numbers and programs, but not to fall back on the size or scope of aid.
“We need to be big, not small,” Biden told Democrats. “I have your back, and you have mine.”
While the White House is pushing for a bipartisan law, House and Senate Democrats have launched a lengthy budget process to pass Biden’s law with or without Republican backing. The vote started on Tuesday in the Senate and was scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday in the House.
“We want to do it twofold, but we have to be strong,” Schumer said after the 90-minute session at the White House. Democrats “team up with our Republican friends when we can.”
The swift action follows Tuesday’s outreach as Biden and Finance Minister Janet Yellen joined Democratic senators for a virtual private rally, with both announcing the Republicans’ $ 618 billion bid was too small.
Both Biden and Yellen recalled lessons from the government’s response to the 2009 financial crisis, which some have since said were inadequate as conditions worsened.
Schumer said of the Republican proposal, “If we did such a small package, we would be stuck in the COVID crisis for years.”
Earlier this week, Biden met with 10 Republican senators who tossed their $ 618 billion alternative, telling them he will not delay aid in hopes of winning GOP support, even if talks continue.
Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell criticized Democrats for continuing largely on their own, while GOP senators try to offer two-pronged alternatives.
“They have taken a totally biased path,” McConnell said. “That’s too bad.”
The two sides are far apart. The cornerstone of the GOP plan is $ 160 billion for the health care response: vaccine distribution, a “massive expansion” of testing, protective equipment, and money for rural hospitals, similar to what Biden has suggested for help specific before the pandemic.
But from that point on, the two plans diverge drastically. Biden proposes $ 170 billion for schools, compared to $ 20 billion in the Republican plan. Republicans would also give nothing to states, money the Democrats say is just as important, with $ 350 billion in Biden’s plan to keep police, firefighters, and other workers working.
The $ 1,000 direct payments from the GOP would go to fewer people – those who make up to $ 40,000 a year, or $ 80,000 for couples. Biden’s larger payments of $ 1,400 would extend to higher income levels, up to $ 300,000 for some families.
The Republicans are offering $ 40 billion in business support from the Paycheck Protection Program. But democratic priorities such as a gradual lifting of the federal minimum wage have disappeared up to $ 15 per hour.
Delaware senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, both Biden state Democrats, were at the White House earlier Wednesday and discussed with the president the need for state and local aid and the possibility of reducing who qualifies for a new round of direct payments.
Coons said he is in talks with Republicans “about under what conditions they are willing to significantly increase the amount for some state and local aid.” Without it, he said, it is a “non-starter.”
Winning the support of 10 Republicans would be significant, potentially giving Biden the votes needed in the 50-50 Senate to reach the 60-vote threshold typically required to advance legislation. Vice President Kamala Harris is the tie-breaker.
But Democrats went ahead with Tuesday’s vote, laying the groundwork for final approval as part of the budget reconciliation process, which could allow the bill to be passed by a majority of 51 votes in the Senate.