Bernie Sanders says Democrats have votes to approve the Covid-19 relief project through reconciliation

Bernie Sanders says Democrats have votes to approve the Covid-19 relief project through reconciliation

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“I believe so,” said the next chairman of the Senate Budget Committee when asked during an interview with ABC whether he thought there were enough Democratic votes.

“We will all have differences of opinion, this is a $ 1.9 trillion note, I have disagreements and concerns about this account, but in the end we will support the President of the United States,” added Sanders.

Sanders, an independent who agrees with Democrats, said Democrats would use the measure to approve the package by 51 votes in the Senate, instead of 60, if Republicans do not pass the legislation.

Republicans used the reconciliation process when they tried to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act in 2017 in the Senate. The GOP successfully used the process months later to revise the country’s tax code, which was approved only with Republican votes.
Larger stimulus checks, more help for the unemployed, the hungry and those facing eviction, additional support for small businesses, states and local governments and increased funding for vaccines and tests are essential parts of a $ 1.9 trillion proposal that President Joe Biden released earlier this month.
Announced as the American Rescue Plan, the package augments many of the measures in the historic $ 3 trillion coronavirus relief bill in March and in the $ 900 billion December legislation, which has been scaled down to garner support from Republicans of the Senate.

When asked about Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who said this weekend that he will look for a bipartisan way of approaching the relief bill, Sanders said he is still “absolutely confident” that there are enough votes for the reconciliation process.

Democrats were criticized for ignoring bipartisanship so early in the Biden administration. Sanders addressed this issue and said that there are opportunities for bipartisanship in the future, including in infrastructure, but that the pandemic is very pressing.

“We hope to work with Republicans, but right now this country is facing an unprecedented series of crises,” he said.

The Vermont senator did not rule out working with Republicans, but said he had not heard any better ideas from them until now.

“If Republicans want to work with us, they have better ideas on how to deal with these crises, this is great. But to be honest with you, I haven’t heard that yet, ”said Sanders.

His comments were made on the same day that a group of 10 Republican senators asked Biden to support his own Covid-19 aid package structure.

Senators said its structure includes a total of $ 160 billion for development and distribution of vaccines, testing and screening, and treatment and supplies, including the production and deployment of personal protective equipment.

It would also include a new round of direct payments to “families most in need of assistance”, extend federal unemployment benefits reinforced at the current level and provide $ 4 billion to reinforce behavioral health and substance abuse.

An aide close to the process told CNN that the plan is expected to be between $ 500 and $ 600 billion, although lawmakers are still waiting for a response from the Congressional Budget Office on the estimated cost.

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