Brian Deese, director of the President’s National Economic Council, indicated that the White House’s focus on relieving Covid-19 was in a comprehensive relief package in an interview on Tuesday, telling CNBC: “We are at a time when we need decisive action, we need to move quickly, and we need to move comprehensively. “
Asked if the focus was on a bipartisan bill or a “big” bill, Deese told Becky Quick: “We’ve learned in the last 10 months what happens if you approach this crisis little by little. We need to move quickly and comprehensively, so that is really our focus. We certainly want to move forward as much as we can. ”
Pressed if it meant seeking a budget reconciliation, Deese said: “Well, look, we need to do whatever is necessary to resolve this crisis – we can’t open schools if we can’t control the virus, we can’t get control of the virus unless that we invest in the resources we need, we can’t get people back to work if we don’t open schools, so, you know, we need to tackle that comprehensively. “
“We are very open to people’s opinions and ideas, this is the process that is happening now, but we need to move quickly here, so that we do not find ourselves, in a month, two or three, in a place where the virus is entering is not under control, the economy is worse, and we all wonder why we don’t act “, he added.
On criticism that coronavirus relief involves sending checks to Americans who don’t need them, Deese rejected the idea that the Biden government’s proposed package is not targeted enough, telling CNBC, “if you look at the provisions of the American rescue plan, very focused: hunger, homelessness, unemployment insurance. “
“Certainly, if there are ways to make this provision and other provisions more effective, this is something that we are open to, we will have conversations about it, but I think that if you look at it together, this is a very very targeted approach for workers in companies that are struggling more in this economy, “he continued.
More about reconciliation: Senate Democrats are laying the groundwork for using a rare procedural tactic known as reconciliation to approve important parts of the Covid-19 aid package if Republicans get in the way, according to several Democratic advisers.
Although the leadership has not yet publicly endorsed and negotiations with Republicans are still starting, advisers tell CNN that the process is complicated and mysterious, which is why they are preparing now, if they need to use it.