Biden’s aides told Congressional allies that they expected Covid’s $ 2 trillion aid package

Biden’s aides told Congressional allies that they expected Covid’s $ 2 trillion aid package

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Biden’s team is taking a “shoot at the moon” approach with the package, a lawmaker in close contact with them told CNN, although they added that the price could still change. The proposal will include sizeable direct payments to American families, significant state and local funding – including for coronavirus vaccine distribution and other emergency spending measures – to help those struggling during the pandemic.

Biden is due to announce the details of his plan in Wilmington, Delaware, on Thursday night.

Democrats hold only the smallest majorities in the House and Senate, and Republicans recently resisted efforts to approve Covid-19’s relief on a multi-trillion-dollar scale. But Biden’s party believes it may have only a brief window to pass broad relief legislation, and the president-elect has faced significant pressure from some Democrats to grow.
Biden asks the Senate to seek impeachment along with

Brian Deese, chosen by Biden to head the National Economic Council, said at a conference on Wednesday that the package will include $ 2,000 stimulus checks and will address other relief measures, such as unemployment insurance.

Biden’s initial focus on a comprehensive aid package reflects the political reality that his first year in office will be defined by his ability to fight the virus and prevent an economic meltdown.
And with only a few days to go, the pandemic is killing faster than at any time in 2020. The United States reported the highest number of Covid-19 deaths in one day on Tuesday: 4,327, according to Johns Hopkins University.
As a result, Biden is pushing to prevent the Senate’s impeachment trial from consuming his agenda and overshadowing the first days of his government. He is still waiting for a word on whether the Senate will be able to proceed with impeachment along with Cabinet confirmation hearings and Covid-19 legislation.

Aides say Biden and his team are working behind the scenes with Senate Democrats – and House impeachment managers – to keep the impeachment trial going as quickly as possible, although it remains an open question whether it can be successful.

In a statement on Wednesday night, Biden made it clear that although the House vote “for impeachment and accountability of the president” was “a bipartisan vote launched by members who followed the Constitution and their conscience”, he does not want the trial Senate to prevent its agenda.

“This nation also remains in the grip of a deadly virus and a staggering economy,” continued Biden. “I hope the Senate leadership will find a way to deal with its constitutional responsibilities for impeachment while also working on other urgent issues in this nation.”

This story was updated with additional information Wednesday.

CNN’s Jeff Zeleny, Dan Merica, Gregory Krieg and Caroline Kelly contributed to this report.

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