WASHINGTON – The top moderate Republicans in the Senate rejected quick action on President Joe Biden’s top priority for a $ 1.9 trillion economic package, indicating that the $ 1,400 stimulus payments he requested could take months or never get to.
Democrats need to convince 10 Republicans in the Senate, which may require asking for less funding than Biden initially asked, or getting around the 60-vote limit using a parliamentary maneuver.
Biden’s team seems ready to mount an aggressive campaign to get Congress to act, a departure from the previous government that has largely failed to involve lawmakers in legislative priorities and has not spent political capital on project approval.
Republicans who would be critical of reaching the finish line said they were open to additional money to speed up the delivery of the Covid-19 vaccine, but were hesitant about Biden’s overall price. Some asked Biden to downsize the plan, while others suggested waiting a few months to see if the economic need persists.
Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, one of the more moderate Republicans, said she “sympathized” with the increase in vaccine funds, but did not see the justification for a “so big” bill.
“It’s hard for me to see, when we just spent $ 900 billion in assistance, why we would have such a big package,” Collins told reporters on Thursday. “Perhaps in a few months, the needs will be evident and we will need to do something meaningful, but I am not seeing that now.”
Senator Lisa Murkowski of R-Alaska called Biden’s request “significant”, adding that “the paint barely dried on the $ 900 billion bill”.
“And that will require, I think, a fair amount of debate and consideration,” she told reporters.
Senator Mitt Romney R-Utah, a conservative who has a history of breaking with his party, told NBC News that he is not inclined to borrow another $ 1 trillion or even $ 500 billion for a broad economic package.
“My opinion is that what is holding the economy back is Covid, not money,” he said. “I want to do everything in our power to launch Covid’s vaccines. But as soon as the Covid vaccine is launched and people are vaccinated, I believe the economy will come back.”
Rapid resistance means hard work for Biden’s plan for the 10 Republican Party votes needed to go through the normal process, which Biden’s team said favored this project. If bipartisan support does not materialize, it will leave Democrats with two options: use the reconciliation process to circumvent obstructed budget provisions or reduce it to seek bipartisan support.
“I think the government and the political convention would prefer it to be done on a bipartisan basis,” House Budget President John Yarmuth, a Democrat, told reporters. “We have not yet made the decision to use reconciliation, but we are, we are prepared to act very quickly if it seems that we cannot do it any other way.”
Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Who is to chair the Senate Budget Committee, also said that Democrats should use reconciliation if contact with Republicans is unsuccessful.
Biden’s plan includes $ 400 billion for vaccines and school reopening, new stimulus payments of $ 1,400, $ 400 a week in unemployment benefits, $ 25 billion in childcare assistance and health grants to reinforce the Affordable Care Act and finance COBRA health insurance coverage. It follows the $ 900 billion plan approved in December, which provides for direct payments and other economic aid by March.
Some provisions may go through the annual budget process if they are directly related to taxes and expenses. But regulatory provisions, such as raising the federal minimum wage to $ 15, would have to be excluded.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Friday that Biden’s package is subject to changes in the legislative process, but that all components are important.
“The way the package was designed was to address the central issues of the crisis,” she said in response to a question about whether it could be divided to obtain bipartisan support. “So, I think the tricky part of the question is: Do you delay funding for the vaccine to distribute it? Do you delay the financing of unemployment insurance? Do you delay funding to reopen schools? ”
The approach the Democratic government chooses to take on the new president’s priority will set the tone for legislative action over the next two years, which is likely to be Biden’s best opportunity to present aggressive projects in Congress.
Brian Deese, director of the Biden National Economic Council, countered Republican skepticism on Friday, saying the United States is “at a precarious time” with the virus and the economy.
“Without decisive action, we risk falling into a very serious economic hole, even more serious than the crisis we are in,” he told reporters. “The risk of doing too little far outweighs the risk of doing too much.”
Deese is planning to hold a call with a bipartisan group of senators, including Collins and Murkowski, this weekend to discuss Biden’s proposal.
Senator Bill Cassidy, R-La., Who sits on the Senate Finance Committee that would oversee economic aid, said he needed to hear a valid justification for spending so much money.
“If you don’t have a justification for that, a billion dollars is too much for me,” he said. “We are not just here to spend money. We are here to spend money if need be.”
Some Republicans are asking Democratic leaders to withdraw the plan.
“I think the amount would be difficult, but there are components I like,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, RS.C., of Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion proposal. “I don’t think his account will work, but we need to do something.”
He said he hoped a bipartisan working group led by Collins and Senator Joe Manchin, DW.Va., “could come up with an alternative.”