Washington – President Biden on Sunday invited Republican senators to the White House to discuss his economic relief package COVID-19, hours after a group of 10 Republican senators wrote to him to propose an alternative package. The president proposed a $ 1.9 trillion plan, with $ 400 billion to slow the spread of COVID-19 and increase vaccination capacity, and more than $ 1 trillion to help families in need of direct financial support.
The White House said in a statement on Sunday night that Biden spoke to his top party leaders – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer – as well as prominent moderate Republican Senator Susan Collins , leader of the group.
The White House said that Republicans were invited to a “full exchange of ideas”.
The Republican senators’ offer totals $ 600 billion, or less than a third of the size of the package that Biden is seeking, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy said on Fox News Sunday. The plan calls for $ 160 billion for the development and distribution of vaccines, testing and screening, and an unspecified amount for direct payments to Americans and an extension of expanded unemployment benefits, according to the letter.
“In the spirit of bipartisanship and unity, we have developed a COVID-19 relief structure that is based on previous COVID assistance laws, all passed with bipartisan support,” wrote the group. “Our proposal reflects many of its stated priorities and, with your support, we believe that this plan could be quickly approved by Congress with bipartisan support. We request the opportunity to meet to discuss our proposal in more detail and how we can work together to address the needs of the American people during this persistent pandemic. “
The group of Republican senators hopes that their package could be a starting point for a bill that guarantees bipartisan support, while Democrats in Congress are preparing to move forward with a process known as budget reconciliation approve Biden’s plan by a simple majority in the Senate.
Last week, Senate Republicans criticized the $ 1.9 trillion price in Biden’s proposal and, specifically, the formula for distributing another round of direct cash payments. Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, one of the signatories to the letter, said in an interview with CNN on Sunday that direct payments would be more targeted in his proposal, limiting checks to individuals who earn up to $ 50,000 and couples who earn up to US $ 100,000.
Senators who signed the letter include Collins, Cassidy, Portman, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Todd Young of Indiana, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Mike Rounds of South Dakota and Thom Tillis of North Carolina.
The GOP group is expected to release more details of its proposal on Monday.
Eight of the signatories were part of a bipartisan group of senators met spoke last week with Brian Deese, Biden’s chief economic adviser, on the government’s coronavirus aid package. Deese said on Sunday that the White House planned to revise the last letter and signaled that the president is willing to meet with the group, but not to compromise the basic provisions of his aid package.
“The president has repeatedly said that he is open to ideas from wherever they arise, that we could improve the approach to really address this crisis,” said Deese on NBC’s “Meet the Press” program. “He is uncompromising about the need to move quickly on a comprehensive approach here … So we need to act quickly and comprehensively, but we will continue to have conversations as we go.”
Cedric Richmond, a senior adviser to the president, echoed Deese’s comments, saying “Face the Nation” from CBS on Sunday, that Biden is “willing to meet anyone” to take the process forward.
“The president said in his inauguration speech that he wanted to work with both sides to help the American people,” said Richmond on Sunday. “What we know about President Biden is that it is never about him, but always about people. So, yes, he is very willing to meet anyone to move the agenda forward.”