President-elect Joe Biden
Joe BidenFlights from Nashville stopped due to telecommunications problems related to the RV explosion. Does the Haaland choice show Biden’s commitment to a ban on fracturing public land? Police: vehicle that exploded in Nashville transmitted warning before the explosion MORE is already lobbying Congress to approve more coronavirus relief measures early next year, setting the stage for a high-profile battle with Republican Party lawmakers shortly after his inauguration.
Congress approved about $ 900 billion in new assistance after months of bargains as COVID-19 cases increased, companies closed, cities reintroduced blocking restrictions and hundreds of thousands of Americans died of the virus.
The account, which President Trump
Donald TrumpMillions must lose unemployment benefits amid Trump’s standoff with Congress The memo: Could Pence run and win in 2024? Flights from Nashville stopped due to telecommunications problems related to the trailer explosion. MORE criticized, but did not threaten to veto, aims to help the country during what public health experts are warning that it will be a violent winter, even with two vaccines starting to be administered. Biden and the Democrats, however, see this as an “initial payment” before the additional aid they wish to approve next year.
“I always said that this account is just a first step – an initial payment – to deal with the crisis … we are in. There is much more work to do. At the beginning of next year I will present to Congress my plans for what comes next, ”Biden told reporters at a news conference shortly after Congress approved the aid package, which was tied to $ 1.4 trillion to finance the government by September 30.
Biden’s promise is being echoed by Democratic leaders, who promise to work with him to push for more funds as soon as he takes office as president on January 20.
“We have a new hope that stems from the vaccine and from President-elect Biden’s commitment to monitoring science. We are ready for the next step, ”Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiRelief bill being sent to Trump in Florida Meghan McCain says Merry Christmas to everyone except ‘healthy people under 65’ who get vaccine before frontline workers. (D-Calif.) Wrote in a letter to fellow Democrats.
Senate minority leader Charles Schumer
Chuck SchumerTrump and Pelosi to merge for $ 1,000 Schumer relief checks on Trump’s call for K in direct payments: Progressive Democrats signal support for Trump’s higher direct payment request MORE (DN.Y.) told reporters he spoke to Biden after the project was approved. He said they agreed that the country needs a “bigger and bolder bill” and in “January, February we will start”.
But Biden is likely to face significant headwinds from Senate Republicans, regardless of which party controls the Senate after the two runoff elections in Georgia on January 5.
If Republicans win one or both of the disputes in Georgia, they will have 51 or 52 seats in the chamber, meaning Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellGOP seeks to avoid Trump’s messy fight over the Bipartisan Electoral College, bicameral group urges Trump to sign the COVID-19 relief package Meghan McCain says Merry Christmas to everyone except ‘healthy people under 65 ‘who get vaccinated before frontline workers MORE (R-Ky.) It will control which measures will be voted on. If Democrats win both seats, they will be able to force a 50-50 majority, but will still need the support of the Republican Party to pass most of the legislation.
Leading Republicans are warning that while they expect Biden to request more help for COVID-19, it is far from guaranteed that Congress will approve it.
“Nothing is guaranteed. … I am confident that you will hear from the government, and particularly from state and local governments, ”Sen. John Cornyn
John CornynGOP seeks to avoid Trump’s confusing fight over the approval of the Electoral College aid bill sparks a struggle to declare victory and blame Congress for approving the seven-day palliative to buy time for the COVID-19 funding deal (R-Texas) said about the prospect of more relief next year.
Sen. John Thune
John Randolph ThuneGOP seeks to avoid Trump’s messy fight over the Electoral College Trump creates chaos for Congress Republicans struggling to avoid the year-end legislative disaster MORE (SD), Republican Party No. 2 senator, said the pressure for further relief from the coronavirus could be determined by the outcome of the two races in Georgia.
“I think the new government is seeing this as something they can do now and then they can come back to next year. A lot of that probably depends on what happens in Georgia, ”said Thune, questioning whether he saw the holiday package as an initial payment.
McConnell was evasive when asked during a recent Fox News Interview about providing more help.
“If after the new government arrives, they want to defend more, we will take a look at it based on the country’s conditions,” said McConnell.
The fight can peak quickly, even though Biden has to juggle to get his administration up and running while trying to tackle other priorities in his first 100 days in office.
Biden is planning to start pushing for more help as early as January or February. Meanwhile, Congress will face a series of so-called relief chasms as the programs authorized in its latest bill begin to be eliminated. The longest deadline will be when the 10-week extension of unemployment included in the broad year-end business begins to be eliminated in mid-March. And depending on when they apply, small businesses may begin to reach the end of the Salary Protection Program loans at the same time.
“I think everyone understands that Vice President Biden is going to ask for another bill, so we will probably have another chance to revisit it soon,” Cornyn said of the impending cliff of unemployment.
Biden is outlining a broad and ambitious wish list for a potential package, which could be a huge increase with Republicans becoming increasingly cautious about the deficit after embracing large spending with President Trump. Biden, who asked for more money for COVID-19 testing and vaccine distribution, is also signaling a desire for state and local funding, an extension of federal unemployment insurance and rent assistance and a third round of stimulus checks.
But the two parties still have deep divisions over their respective priorities that have been left out of the $ 900 billion deal: more help for state and local governments and pressure from the Republican Party to protect against coronavirus lawsuits.
Pelosi and Schumer are promising to provide direct funds to state and local governments, whose officials have warned that they may need to cut services as the coronavirus dries up its tax base.
“I think we will have a more robust bill on state and local issues and many other issues … under President Biden’s administration that we have now,” Schumer told reporters.
But money for state and local governments is considered anathema to some Republicans, and the Republican Party leadership has warned for months that these funds would diminish the number of votes they would be able to obtain in support of a new package. A bipartisan group included more money in its structure for a compromise measure, but was withdrawn from the final agreement drawn up by the leadership.
McConnell has said he will “insist” that protections against coronavirus-related lawsuits be included in any additional COVID-19 measures.
“I think reducing liability is really important,” said McConnell. “And if there is another coronavirus relief bill after the first day of the year, I will insist that liability protection for these universities and healthcare providers is a part of it.”
Democrats have been cautious with these efforts, fearing that any statutory protection would undermine state-approved regulations and could undermine worker safety standards.
“We were unable to reach an agreement on liability. I spent two weeks trying non-stop and we were unsuccessful, ”said the senator. Dick Durbin
Dick Durbin Warren and other senators are seeking investigation into the resumption of federal executions by the Trump administration. Biden calls on senior Hoyer official to join government communications team Legislators expect COVID-19 relief agreement soon MORE (D-Ill.) On recent Congressional efforts to find common ground on the subject.
Biden appears to have recognized that Congress could throw an obstacle in his plans for further relief.
Asked by reporters whether he could guarantee that lawmakers would act soon, Biden looked amused.
“You all ask the most interesting questions. Have you ever met someone in the history of the United States of America who could be president and guarantee exactly what Congress is going to do? “Biden said. “I can’t guarantee anything, but I can say what I hope.”
“There are still people who don’t want to help, there are still people who insist on my way or on the road,” added Biden. “But the vast majority of members of Congress, I believe, will be able to resolve these specific issues that are of national importance.”