Conquering the early presidency of former President Barack Obama, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), was approved with a parliamentary tool called budget reconciliation, which allows lawmakers to bypass a Senate obstruction.
This could end up being the case for President Biden too, if Democrats continue on their current path.
However, on Monday afternoon, Biden will meet with some Republican senators in what could be a step to avoid this and pass a bipartisan bill. A group of 10 Republican senators led by Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, on Sunday announced a proposal for coronavirus relief, which Biden invited them to discuss at the White House on Monday.
These 10 Republicans, plus 50 Democratic senators, could overcome an obstruction by other Republicans and allow a package of coronaviruses to reach Biden’s table without the need to reconcile.
Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, speaks during a confirmation hearing on the election of President-elect Joe Biden to national intelligence director Avril Haines before the Senate intelligence committee on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, in Washington . (Melina Mara / The Washington Post via AP, Pool)
GOP SENATORS MEET BIDEN MONDAY ABOUT CORONAVIRUS RELIEF AS DEMS READY TO PASS THE PROJECT WITHOUT REPUBLICAN SUPPORT
But the chasm between Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion package and Republicans’ offer of just over $ 600 billion makes it clear that there are still significant differences between Biden and even moderate Republicans.
Monday’s meeting, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, is not “a forum for the president to make or accept an offer”.
“[Biden’s] vision is that the size of the package should be compatible with the size of the crises we face, “she continued.” The components that are in [the Biden proposal] they are the basis of what should attract bipartisan support. “
But even if there are no Republicans who support Biden’s coronavirus plan, the White House still says the project can be “bipartisan” in getting public support.
“He is facing the deepest problems, but the greatest opportunities for any president probably since FDR,” Biden’s aide, Anita Dunn, told CNN. “Even with a narrow majority in Congress, he has the opportunity to build broad bipartisan support for his program – not necessarily in Congress, but with the American people.”
President Joe Biden signs a series of executive health decrees at the White House Oval Office on Thursday, January 28, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo / Evan Vucci)
((AP Photo / Evan Vucci))
10 REPUBLICAN SENATORS AGREE TO MEET BIDEN TO SPEAK COVID-19 RELIEF
Democrats recall how the Republican Party’s general opposition in Congress damaged part of the Obama administration’s agenda early in his term. This eventually led them to pass the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as ObamaCare, through budget reconciliation. Notably, Republicans did the same in an attempt to repeal the ACA under Trump and used it successfully to approve major tax cuts of 2017.
The budget reconciliation effort will begin this week when Democratic leaders in both chambers present budget resolutions. These will be the vehicles on which the actual coronavirus aid plan will be placed later.
This parliamentary maneuver, which Congress can only use once each fiscal year, limits the debate on legislation in the Senate, which is normally unlimited, to 20 hours. After this deadline, other amendments proposed to the bill are dispensed in quick succession, without debate. This process, according to the Congressional Survey Service, is called “vote-a-rama”.
According to the Punchbowl News, Republicans are expected to submit more than 1,000 amendments in a one-vote vote on coronavirus relief.
WHAT’S IN THE $ 1.9 T BIDEN STIMULATION PLAN?
There will also be a process in which elements of the bill are examined to see if they have real budgetary implications. They can be removed from the account if they are considered strangers, according to what is known as the “Byrd rule”.
Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) arrives for the impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump at the Capitol on January 30, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP via Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
But even if Democrats move forward with a reconciliation effort, it is unclear whether they would actually have the votes on their own bench to interfere with Biden’s coronavirus plan. Democrats hold a meager 10-vote majority in the House, which could decline if some of the choices in the Biden Cabinet that are full members of the House are quickly confirmed.
And the Senate is notoriously divided by 50-50 along party lines, and some moderate Democratic senators are not guaranteed to vote in favor of Biden’s coronavirus proposal.
THE NEW REPUBLICAN STIMULUS PROPOSAL Would cost $ 600 billion, INCLUDING MORE DIRECT CHECKS: WHAT TO KNOW
One sign that the White House recognizes this reality is the fact that Vice President Kamala Harris gave interviews last week with local TV stations in West Virginia and Arizona, the home states of the Sens moderates. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, respectively.
The move came as a surprise to at least Manchin, who criticized the White House.
“I saw [the interview], I couldn’t believe it. Nobody called me [about it]”Manchin later told WSAZ.” We will try to find a bipartisan way forward, but we need to work together. This is not a way of working together. “
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION
Manchin’s office declined to specify whether he would support Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion proposal if Democrats tried to approve it through reconciliation.
“Senator Manchin is still committed to a bipartisan path ahead,” said a spokesman.
Sinema’s office did not immediately return a request for comment from Fox News.
Chad Pergram of Fox News contributed to this report.