- Democrats are focused on approving Biden’s bailout package with Trump’s impeachment trial behind them.
- House Democrats say a plenary vote could take place at the end of next week.
- The final legislation is being put together in the next seven days.
- Visit the Insider Business section for more stories.
Democrats in Congress are stepping up their efforts to approve President Joe Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion bailout package before federal unemployment benefits begin to expire on March 14.
Congressional Democrats are doubling on an aggressive schedule now that former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial is behind him. House majority leader Steny Hoyer said on Tuesday in a letter to Dear Colleague that Democrats were on their way to a February 22 “end of the week” plenary vote.
“We will be ready to take further action on the American Rescue Plan in the event that the Senate changes it and sends it back to us,” said Hoyer, suggesting that a final vote could take place during the week of March 8.
The proposal would provide $ 1,400 stimulus checks and $ 400 federal unemployment benefits, and would gradually start raising the minimum wage to $ 15 an hour. It also includes important funding for vaccine distribution and virus testing, and for state and local governments, among other provisions.
Nine House committees completed their work last week, marking their respective parts of the colossal rescue package. Now, the House Budget Committee will take each piece separately and assemble the final legislation in the next seven days.
Democrats are using a process called reconciliation to bypass Republicans in the move. It requires only a simple majority of 51 votes, instead of the 60 normally needed to defeat an obstruction.
A plan with broad support in the first surveys
Republicans are vehemently opposed to the bailout plan, arguing that it is an undirected collection of liberal political priorities. The components that generated significant opposition from the Republican Party include $ 350 billion in aid to state and local governments, along with raising the minimum wage.
“There are many things there that have nothing to do with the stated purpose of the project,” Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the right-wing American Action Forum, said recently in an interview with Insider.
Biden is expected to try to get support for his plan from CNN City Hall on Tuesday night. Early research indicates that it is widely popular with the American public.
This prompted White House officials to say that their plan is bipartisan – and almost dared Republicans in Congress to explain their opposition.
“If they make a decision, Senator McConnell [and] Republicans in Congress, to vote against the will of their constituents, I suggest you ask why this is politically intelligent, “White House press secretary Jen Psaki told a news conference on Tuesday.