The Senate’s Republican opposition to President Joe Biden’s new $ 1.9 trillion stimulus plan has increased since the day of his inauguration, with some indicating that the Democratic leader has yet to attempt to negotiate a bipartisan deal.
On January 14, Biden unveiled a broad relief proposal that includes a third $ 1,400 stimulus check, $ 160 billion in additional funding for an aggressive national vaccination program, raising the minimum wage to $ 15 an hour and increasing federal unemployment payments from $ 300 a month to $ 400.
“I suspect that the whole package does not start, but it has many starting points. And many of them are things that we propose in terms of more assistance to states,” said Sen. Roy Blunt, of Missouri, according to the Washington Post. “There are some things that are not going to happen. There are some things that can happen. And this is how this process should work.”
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Earlier this week, moderate Republicans indicated that it may be too early to approve another major stimulus package. “We just passed a program with more than $ 900 billion,” said Sen. Mitt Romney, from Utah. “I am not looking for a new program in the immediate future.”
Senator Susan Collins of Maine said, “We just spent $ 900 billion in assistance; why would we have such a big package now? Maybe in a few months the needs will be evident and we will need to do something meaningful. But I don’t see now. “
“The $ 900 billion ink has barely dried, and what the president is proposing is significant – $ 1.9 trillion. This will require, I think, a fair amount of debate and consideration,” added Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska.
With growing opposition from the Republican Party, the way Biden is dealing with this first major piece of legislation will test his promise of unity campaign after the split of Donald Trump’s presidency.
Some Democrats have asked the president to skip attempts to reach a bipartisan agreement and circumvent the possibility of months of stalled negotiations by pushing legislation without Republican support.
“It is important for Democrats to contribute to America. If the best way to do that is to do it in a way that can bring Republicans, I am all for it,” said Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. “But if Republicans want to reduce it to the point where we don’t do what needs to be done, then we need to be prepared to fight it. Our job is to deliver it to the American people.”
Democrats maintained limited control of the House and secured a 50-50 split in the Senate, with Vice President Kamala Harris as the deciding vote. If Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer can guarantee that all Democrats in the upper house vote for the package, the party will not need any Republicans to pass the measure.
Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio encouraged Biden to obtain “bipartisanship in the beginning” to ensure “a basis of trust”, but he says the president has neglected contact with most Republican lawmakers since he released his plan.
“I have not personally [heard from the White House]and I’m disappointed with that, not about me, but about, you know, it’s one thing to talk about outreach, it’s another thing to do it, “he said, according to Post.
The Biden government is expected to inform Republican senators about the stimulus by the end of the weekend.
Newsweek contacted the White House for comment.