Her. Bill Cassidy
Bill CassidySunday Shows Preview: New COVID-19 Variants Distributed in US; Redditors Shake Wall Street With Gamestop Stock OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Biden Signs Batch of Orders to Address Climate Change | Republicans press on Granholm about fossil fuels during confirmation hearing Republicans press on Granholm about fossil fuels during confirmation hearing MORE (R-La.) Said on Sunday that the framework for a COVID-19 economic aid package unveiled by 10 Republican senators would cost $ 600 billion, less than half the price of the Biden administration’s $ 1 proposal, 9 trillion.
Cassidy said on “Fox News Sunday” that the reduced GOP proposal unveiled earlier Sunday includes $ 1,000 direct payments to individuals that would target certain income levels. He did not specify whether the GOP’s threshold would be those who made less than $ 75,000 in the 2019 tax year. President Biden’s proposal includes a third round of $ 1,400 direct payments.
Funding for schools is also being cut in the GOP package, which offers $ 20 billion instead of Biden’s $ 170 billion, according to Cassidy. Cassidy took note of previous COVID-19 emergency proposals funding schools and the idea that helping public schools would help teacher unions who are skeptical about whether it is safe to return to personal education.
Cassidy said one area of agreement is the vaccinations, with the 10 GOP senators agreeing to match the White House’s $ 160 billion figure to distribute and administer shots.
Biden said on Friday that he supports the approval of a COVID-19 aid package with Republican votes “if we can get it, but the COVID relief must pass. There is no if, and of butts. “
Last week, Biden government officials held a call with 16 senators – eight lawmakers from each party – about the White House’s COVID-19 aid package. The call has been characterized as a ‘productive’ conversation, but several Republicans have called Biden’s plan too expensive.
The White House’s $ 1.9 trillion plan also includes an extension of emergency unemployment benefits in mid-March. A proposal from the Biden administration to raise the federal minimum wage to $ 15 an hour was met with setbacks by Republicans who claim it would cost US jobs.