Sen. Bill Cassidy
Bill CassidySunday shows a preview: New variants of COVID-19 spread across the USA; Redditors shake Wall Street with Gamestop shares ENERGY OF THE NIGHT: Biden signs a series of requests to tackle climate change | Republicans pressure Granholm on fossil fuels during confirmation hearing Republicans pressure Granholm on fossil fuels during confirmation hearing MORE (R-La.) He said on Sunday that the structure for a COVID-19 economic relief package unveiled by 10 Republican senators would cost $ 600 billion, less than half the price of the Biden government’s $ 1.9 trillion proposal.
Cassidy said on Fox News Sunday that the Republican Party’s reduced proposal unveiled earlier on Sunday includes direct payments of $ 1,000 to individuals who would be targeted at certain income levels. He did not specify whether the GOP limit would be those who earned less than $ 75,000 in fiscal 2019. President Biden’s proposal includes a third round of direct payments of $ 1,400.
School funding has also been cut in the Republican Party package, which Cassidy said offers $ 20 billion instead of Biden’s $ 170 billion. Cassidy noted the previous COVID-19 aid proposals that funded schools and the notion that attending public schools would help teachers’ unions that are skeptical about the safety of returning to classroom teaching.
Cassidy said one area of agreement is vaccination, with the 10 Republican senators agreeing to match the White House’s $ 160 billion value to distribute and administer vaccines.
Biden said on Friday that he supports the approval of a COVID-19 relief package with Republican votes “if we can, but COVID’s relief has to be approved. There is no if, and ass. “
Last week, Biden government officials held a conference call with 16 senators – eight legislators from each party – about the White House’s COVID-19 aid package. The call was characterized as a “productive” conversation, but several Republicans said Biden’s plan was too expensive.
The White House’s $ 1.9 trillion plan also includes an extension of emergency unemployment benefits to mid-March. A proposal by the Biden government to raise the federal minimum wage to $ 15 an hour was met with resistance by Republicans, who argue that it would cost American jobs.