President Biden and a group of 10 Republican senators agreed on Monday to hold additional talks on coronavirus relief, while seeking to find space to work out a bipartisan agreement.
The group of Republicans met with Biden at the White House on Monday for about two hours, significantly longer than both sides expected the meeting to last.
Sen. Susan Collins
Susan Margaret CollinsBiden meeting with Republican senators on Monday on coronavirus relief Biden invites Republican senators to the White House for relief talks The president has changed, but Washington no MORE (R-Maine), which took the lead in trying to negotiate a deal, called the meeting “very productive” and “cordial”.
“It was a very good exchange of views. I wouldn’t say that we arrived together in a package tonight, no one expected this in a two-hour meeting. level and between us and the president and vice president on how we can continue to work together on this very important issue, “said Collins outside the White House on Monday night.
The meeting marked Biden’s first visit to parliamentarians in the Oval Office, a fact that Collins disclosed to reporters.
“[It] it was an excellent meeting, and we are very grateful that, as his first official meeting in the Oval Office, the president decided to spend so much time with us in a frank and very useful discussion, “she said.
The GOP group used the meeting to explain its $ 618 billion coronavirus proposal to Biden, Vice President Harris and his top advisers. The White House also provided more details about its $ 1.9 trillion package, after senators from both parties pushed for more details on how the government presented its proposal.
Collins – the only Republican senator to speak after the meeting – did not address a decision by the Democratic leadership to lay the groundwork this week to pass a bill against coronavirus by a simple majority, allowing them to bypass Republican support if necessary.
Instead, she noted that Congress had already been able to negotiate bipartisan coronavirus relief projects. Many of the senators were part of the so-called 908 coalition, which proposed a structure at the end of last year that the leadership considered to have broken an impasse of months.
“We demonstrated last year that we can arrive together in a bipartisan package. … I hope that we can once again approve a sixth COVID bipartisan relief package,” said Collins.
But there are big differences between the package offered by the Republican group and the larger $ 1.9 trillion supported by Democrats.
The GOP proposal includes $ 160 billion in pandemic response funding, including protective equipment and more money for vaccine distribution. It also extends the federal unemployment benefit of $ 300 per week until June 30.
The bill includes a direct payment of $ 1,000 to Americans, compared to a direct payment of $ 1,400 in Biden’s plans, with $ 500 for adult dependents and children. The proposal also reduces the income ceiling for receiving direct aid.
According to previous coronavirus accounts, individuals earning up to $ 75,000 would receive the check, with the payment amount being eliminated after that. But, according to the Republican Party proposal, individuals who earn up to $ 40,000 would receive a check for $ 1,000, with the check amount being eliminated entirely at $ 50,000.
It also includes $ 20 billion in additional funding for schools, $ 20 billion in childcare funding, an additional $ 50 billion in helping small businesses, $ 12 billion in nutritional assistance and $ 4 billion in behavioral health resources.
But the next chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Ron Wyden
Ronald (Ron) Lee WydenHillicon Valley: Reddit-driven stock plunge falls and GameStop purchase ban continues | Lawmakers question NSA over violation of years after massive invasion of Russia | Facebook is reportedly considering an antitrust lawsuit against Apple Lawmakers questions the NSA about violations of years ago following a massive hack in Russia. Legislators offer bill to repeal SAL deduction limit MORE (D-Ore.) He warned that the GOP’s offer did not go far enough, predicting the reaction that Biden is likely to face if he agrees to go substantially lower.
“The package outlined by 10 Republicans in the Senate is too small to provide the relief that the American people need. In particular, a three-month extension of unemployment benefits is not a starting point. … We cannot continue jumping from cliff to cliff every few months, “Wyden said in a statement, adding that an” extension of benefits for at least six months is essential. “
Sen. Democrat Jon Tester
Jonathan (Jon) TesterIndigenous groups campaign against ABC’s candidate for VA’s ‘Big Sky’ secretary sails through confirmation hearing To protect our parks, click pause to rent MORE (Mont.), One of the more moderate members of the caucus, also warned that he did not think the Republican Party’s plan was big enough.
“I think it has to be bigger than that. … If we have to go back over and over and over again, I don’t think this is good for the economy, I don’t think it is good for sure,” Testador said.
The meeting takes place hours after the Senate majority leader Charles Schumer
Chuck SchumerDemocratic congressmen are on the wrong side of the impeachment policy Proposed permanent capitol fences provoke bipartisan resistance Immigration reform cannot wait MORE (DN.Y.) and speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiBiden meeting with Republican senators on Monday about coronavirus relief Portman says the Republican leadership “must stand up” against Greene’s comments. Congressional Democrats are on the wrong side of the impeachment policy. (D-Calif.) Has filed a budget resolution that will include instructions to draft a $ 1.9 trillion bill that Democrats could pass under reconciliation, allowing them to avoid a 60-vote legislative obstruction.
“Democrats welcome the ideas and contributions of our Republican colleagues in the Senate. The only thing we cannot accept is a package that is too small or too narrow to get our country out of this emergency. We cannot repeat the mistake of 2009,” he said. Schumer. the Senate floor.