- Democrats are running to approve a stimulus plan by early March, before federal unemployment benefits expire.
- House committees are marking the issue in two weeks, and Democrats plan to approve it before March 14.
- Here is an approximate timetable for Democratic stimulus, based on statements by public officials.
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Democrats are trying to follow a fast schedule for President Joe Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion bailout package, which they hope to have approved in early March to avoid a lapse in federal benefits for unemployed Americans.
But the timeline creates a very small margin of error.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi doubled to push the package until early March, before the unemployment insurance hike. A new report by the left-leaning Century Foundation indicated that 11.4 million people could lose all unemployment benefits if Congress did not renew programs before that.
She said several House committees are “acting quickly” to finalize the legislative details of Biden’s plan.
“They are moving forward to eliminate the virus,” she said at her weekly news conference on Thursday.
Here is the apparent Democratic calendar for coronavirus relief, based on statements by public officials:
- February 8-12: Nine House committees draft the stimulus bill in appointment sessions.
- February 15th to 19th: The Chamber’s Budget Committee finalizes the legislation and the Rules Committee defines the terms of the plenary debate.
- February 22-26: The Chamber votes on the relief bill, sending it to the Senate.
- Before March 14: The Senate approves the stimulus legislation, forwarding it to Biden’s desk for signature.
Representative Steny Hoyer told reporters recently that Democrats intended to vote in plenary during the week of February 22. Democrats are trying to pass the bill before March 14, when federal unemployment programs expire.
But the schedule may get more complicated when the bill reaches the Senate. Democrats are using a legislative maneuver called reconciliation, and it has very strict guidelines. Using the procedure allows Democrats to dismiss Republicans and approve the aid plan with a simple majority of 51 votes, instead of the 60 normally needed to break an obstruction.
Any Democratic senator could oppose any element of relief legislation – and suddenly jeopardize its speedy approval. Any coronavirus infection among senators could undermine the plan as well. Democrats control the equally divided Senate because Vice President Kamala Harris may break ties.
Biden’s proposal includes $ 1,400 stimulus checks, $ 400 federal unemployment benefits through September, a larger child tax credit, and assistance to state and local governments, among other provisions. It also includes a minimum wage of $ 15 over five years.
The wage increase is likely to be subject to further scrutiny in the coming weeks and created a divide between the center Democrats and the rest of the Senate Democrats. It is uncertain whether it will clear the strict budgetary rules that govern reconciliation; the Senate parliamentarian will determine whether he can be included.
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