Republicans’ initial opposition signals that the next round of coronavirus relief will be at least as painful as the last, which took more than six months to complete in late December. It also means that Biden may have to choose between reducing his ambitions in order to fulfill his bipartisan wishes or embracing a party project that he says the country desperately needs.
Some House Democrats have considered a smaller package linking larger vaccines and stimulus checks, although Democratic leaders in both houses have not yet decided which way to go.
Biden pushed for a huge plan that includes a $ 15 hourly minimum wage increase, additional increases in unemployment benefits and $ 1,400 in direct payments. It also injects more money into vaccines and tests.
Some of these items can get support from Republicans. But this package as a whole is a “non-starter,” said Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), The 4th leader of the GOP.
“We are ready to see what is needed to move forward, in the most effective and fastest way possible, in the distribution of vaccines, to ensure what we need for the future in terms of CDC,” said Blunt. “There are some things there that are not going to happen, there are some things that can happen.”
Even progressives prefer to work with Republicans rather than use reconciliation or change the Senate’s obstruction rules to force the aid package. But they say they will not be hindered by the Republicans’ use of the supermajority requirement to do things.
“The American people are crying out for help, crying out for action and we have to respond,” said Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). “I hope that we can get cooperation from our Republican colleagues and that they understand the seriousness of what the country is facing. But we need all the tools we have. “
Sanders is the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, which could set the stage for using the procedural tool to avoid Republican obstruction. Using budgetary reconciliation, Democrats can pass laws with just 50 votes and Vice President Kamala Harris breaking any ties. Still, there are limits to budget reconciliation – and Biden’s big argument is that he can bring the country together and work with Republicans.
There are few candidates among Republicans, however, to go as big and bold as Biden wishes. And there is even less enthusiasm to do that now. Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Mitt Romney of Utah, two Republicans who helped turn the latest bipartisan bill into law, indicated this week that Biden would have to sell them to pass such a big bill now.
“They need to know that it will get nowhere,” said Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) of the Biden government. “He’s not going anywhere. No, you cannot get 60 votes. “
The Biden government says the exact opposite is true. At a press conference on Thursday afternoon, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that Biden “feels that the package was created for bipartisan support”. In addition, some business groups like the United States Chamber of Commerce have endorsed their plan.
Collins and Romney are among a group of 16 senators from both parties who will meet with the Biden government over the weekend to start discussing economic issues. It is just the beginning of what is likely to be a long set of negotiations with the Senate, which is divided into 50-50 and will take weeks to confirm the Biden Cabinet and conduct former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial before he can fully appeal. to Covid’s relief.
Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.) listed an aid package among the Senate’s top three priorities, along with confirmations and the impeachment trial. On Thursday, he said his new majority must face “the biggest economic crisis since the New Deal 75 years ago, the biggest health crisis in 100 years”.
He and Biden also face a recalcitrant Republican Party that thinks it has already spent a lot of money.
“We have already donated $ 5 trillion,” said Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.). “It’s too high. It’s too vague … I don’t want to just throw money away.”
Some Democrats acknowledge that what Biden is presenting will not be accepted by the Republican Party and say his proposal is only the first step towards an eventual compromise with the Republican Party. The alternative is to abandon bipartisan efforts and try to unilaterally approve the first item on Biden’s legislative agenda, which can always be an alternative plan.
“Some of the elements will attract very strong bipartisan support,” said Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), A close ally of Biden. “What we need to do is just work hard to find a good compromise in principle.”
Matthew Choi contributed to this report.