Georgia Sens. Raphael Warnock
Raphael WarnockDobbs: Republicans lost in 2020 because they ‘forgot who the real leader was’ Republicans plan revisions in the vote after Biden’s victory Renewing the tree of freedom MORE (In Jon Ossoff
Jon OssoffDobbs: Republicans lost in 2020 because they ‘forgot who the real leader was’ Republicans plan to reform the vote after Biden’s victory Renewing the tree of freedom MORE (D), both of whom won the January runoff election with the promise of a Democratic senate to approve another round of direct payments to the coronavirus, pressured their caucus for quick action on the matter, the Washington Post reported.
Warnock and Ossoff, at a lunchtime meeting with Senate Democrats and White House economic advisers, described the promise as central to their respective victories, according to the newspaper.
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) Said the general consensus at the meeting was the need for quick and decisive action in another round of coronavirus relief.
“My strong impression was that there is general unanimity and it is strong that we need to be bold and decisive, especially when giving people injections and vaccines and putting money in people’s pockets and putting children back in school,” he said. Blumenthal, according to the Post. “And one way to put money in people’s pockets is to keep our promises for stimulus payments.”
White House participants in the call included senior adviser Anita Dunn, Director of the National Economic Council Brian Deese
Brian DeeseOvernight Health Care: Biden consultant offers more pessimistic outlook on vaccine launch | CDC says coronavirus can kill up to 514K on February 20 | Vaccine research funds have been misused for decades, says the watchdog, says the White House is in full swing in COVID-19 relief negotiations. Moderate Democrats are pushing for car stabilizers in the COVID-aid package. 19 MORE and Jeff Zients
Jeff ZientsOvernight Health Care: Biden Consultant Offers More Pessimistic Forecast About Vaccine Launch | CDC says coronavirus can kill up to 514K on February 20 | Vaccine research funds have been misused for decades, says the watchdog says the White House is going full steam ahead in COVID-19 relief negotiations Problems interrupt the first COVID-19 Zoom briefing under Biden MORE, the person responsible for administering the coronavirus response.
The meeting took place on the same day that the speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiOn The Money: Reddit brokers wreak havoc on Wall Street | Powell: Fears of inflation should not prevent further aid to the coronavirus | NJ lawmakers push for repeal of SALT limit in next aid package Pelosi asks Democrats to “write their stories” about the Capitol riot, bringing America back from the edge (D-Calif.) He said the House and Senate should vote on a budget resolution next week.
“By the end of the week, we will end with the budget resolution, which will be about reconciliation if we need to,” she told reporters, according to the Post.
Under reconciliation, the resolution could be passed by the House by a simple majority if all Democratic senators and Vice President Harris voted in favor.
“I think we have more power to get cooperation from the other side if they know we have an alternative,” said Pelosi.
The Hill contacted the Warnock and Ossoff offices and the White House for comment.