President Biden and a group of 10 GOP senators agreed on Monday to hold additional negotiations on coronavirus control as they seek room to negotiate a two-pronged deal.
The group of Republicans met Biden at the White House on Monday for about two hours, considerably longer than either side had expected the meeting to last. Both sides characterized the meeting as productive, although the White House indicated that despite opposition from Republicans, Biden would not shy away from demanding a robust package.
Her. Susan Collins
Susan Margaret Collins Biden Meeting With GOP Senators Monday Over Coronavirus Relief Biden Invites GOP Senators To White House For Emergency Relief Talks The President Has Changed But Washington Has MORE (R-Maine), who has been at the forefront of negotiating a deal, called the meeting “very productive” and “cordial.”
“It was a very good exchange of views. I wouldn’t say that we had a package together tonight, nobody expected that in a two-hour meeting. But what we did agree was follow-up and further talk with the staff. Level. and among ourselves and with the president and vice president on how we can continue to work together on this very important issue, ”Collins said outside the White House Monday night.
The White House in a statement called the meeting “ productive ” and “ substantive, ” but added that Biden “ reiterated that while he is hopeful that the bailout can succeed with bipartisan support, a reconciliation package is one way to achieve that goal. ‘ The White House also made it clear that Biden believes the $ 618 billion proposal unveiled by the GOP senators falls short.
“While there were areas on which there was agreement, the president also reiterated his position that Congress must respond courageously and urgently, and pointed to many areas that the Republican senators’ proposal does not address,” said the White House press secretary. Jen Psaki
Jen PsakiBiden meeting with GOP senators Monday over coronavirus relief Biden invites GOP senators to White House for aid talks Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi is detained in early morning raid as military takes over country MORE said. “The president also made it clear that the US bailout has been carefully designed to meet the challenges of the moment, and any changes to it cannot leave the nation behind in its urgent needs.”
The meeting was Biden’s first visit he had with lawmakers in the Oval Office, a fact Collins praised to journalists.
“[It] was an excellent meeting, and we appreciate very much that at 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 used the sit-down meeting to explain their $ 618 billion coronavirus proposal to Biden, vice president Harris and top employees. The White House also provided more details on its $ 1.9 trillion package after senators from both parties pushed for more details on how the government came up with its proposal.
Collins – the only GOP senator to speak after the meeting – did not comment on a decision by the Democratic leaders to lay the groundwork for passing a simple majority coronavirus law this week, allowing them to bypass GOP support if that is necessary.
Instead, she noted that Congress has previously been able to negotiate bipartisan bills for coronavirus control. Many of the senators were part of the so-called 908 coalition that proposed a framework late last year that, according to the leadership, had broken a months-long stalemate.
“We’ve shown over the past year that we can come together on a bipartisan package.… I am hopeful that we can pass another sixth bipartisan COVID aid package,” said Collins.
But there are big differences between the package offered by the GOP group and the larger $ 1.9 trillion package supported by Democrats. While Biden would rather sign a bill with GOP backing, the White House made it clear on Monday that he would support Democrats who would pass the bill through simple majority reconciliation.
The GOP’s proposal includes $ 160 billion in funding for a pandemic, including protective equipment and more money for vaccine distribution. It also extends federal unemployment benefits from $ 300 a week through June 30.
The bill includes a $ 1,000 direct payment to Americans, compared to the $ 1,400 direct payment in Biden’s plans, with $ 500 for adult dependents and children. The proposal also lowers the income ceiling for eligibility for direct aid.
According to previous accounts for the coronavirus, individuals making up to $ 75,000 would receive the check, after which the amount of the payment would be phased out thereafter. But under the GOP proposal, individuals who earn up to $ 40,000 would receive a check for $ 1,000, with the check amount tapped to $ 50,000 in total.
It also includes $ 20 billion in additional funding for schools, $ 20 billion in childcare funding, an additional $ 50 billion in small business aid, $ 12 billion in nutritional aid, and $ 4 billion in behavioral health resources.
But the new chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Ron Wyden
Ronald (Ron) Lee WydenHillicon Valley: Fallout of Reddit-Powered Stock Rallies, GameStop Purchase Ban Continues | Lawmakers grill NSA after years of breach following massive Russian hack | Facebook Reportedly Considering Antitrust Lawsuit Against Apple Lawmakers Grill NSA After Years Of Infringement In Aftermath Of Massive Russian Hack Lawmakers Offer Bill To Revoke Limit On SALT Deduction MORE (D-Ore.) Warned that the GOP offering did not go far enough, looking at the backlash that Biden is likely to face if he agrees to go significantly lower.
The package outlined by 10 Senate Republicans is far too small to provide the assistance that the American people need. In particular, an extension of the unemployment benefit by three months is a non-starter. … We can’t keep jumping from cliff to cliff every few months, ” Wyden said in a statement, adding that “ an extension of the benefits for at least six months is essential. ”
Democratic Sen. Jon Tester
Jonathan (Jon) Tester Indigenous Groups To Campaign Against ABC’s ‘Big Sky’ VA Secretary Nominee Speed By Confirmation Hearing To Protect Our Parks, Hit Pause On Leasing MORE (Mont.), One of the more moderate members of the caucus, also warned that he did not think the GOP plan was big enough.
“I think it should be bigger than that … If we have to come back over and over, I just don’t think that’s good for the economy, I don’t think it’s good for the sake of certainty,” Tester said.
The meeting comes hours after the Senate majority leader Charles Schumer
Chuck Schumer Congressional Democrats On The Wrong Side Of Impeachment Politics Permanent Capitol Fencing Proposal Leads To Bipartisan Pushback Immigration Reform Can’t Wait ANY MORE (DN.Y.) and speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiBiden met GOP senators on Monday over coronavirus relief Portman says the Republican leadership “should stand up” to Greene’s comments. Congressional Democrats are on the wrong side of impeachment politics MORE (D-Calif.) Filed a budget resolution that will include instructions to draft a $ 1.9 trillion bill that Democrats could pass under reconciliation, avoiding a legislative filibuster of 60 votes .
“Democrats welcome the ideas and input of our Republican colleagues in the Senate. 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 2009 mistake” , Schumer said from the Senate floor.
Morgan Chalfant contributed.
– Updated at 8:57 PM