Talk about short-lived.
Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Suggested on Sunday that pressure to pass President Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill without Republican support takes precedence over Biden’s pledge for “unity” and bipartisan legislation.
The next chairman of the Senate Budget Committee seemed to abandon the Democratic Party’s commitment to Congressional bipartisanship in an appearance on ABC’s “This Week” program, where he co-hosted Martha Raddatz questioned its support for a legislative process known as “budget reconciliation”, which would accelerate the bill in Congress if Republicans do not support the proposal.
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“We all want bipartisanship and I think you will see more as we go downhill,” he said, “We are all looking forward to working with Republicans. But now this country faces an unprecedented set of crises.”
“We have to act and we have to act now,” added Sanders.
“I don’t care what they say. We have to deal with this pandemic … if Republicans want to work with us, they have better ideas on how to deal with these crises, that’s great. But, to be honest with you, I still haven’t I heard that. “
The Vermont senator said he is confident that Democrats have votes to approve the stimulus bill using the reconciliation process.
“We will all have differences of opinion, this is a $ 1.9 trillion note, I have differences and concerns about that account,” he said, “but at the end of the day we are going to support the President of the United States. “
Sanders’ comments came after ten Republican senators proposed an alternative $ 600 billion coronavirus aid package on Sunday. Among them is Senator Bill Cassidy, R-La., Who told Fox News that Biden has made no effort to work with his bipartisan group.
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“The president’s team did not reach anyone in our group, whether Democratic or Republican, when it formed its proposal,” Cassidy told Fox News Sunday.
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“So, if you want unity, if you want bipartisanship, you should start with a group that shows that it is willing to work together for a common solution,” he said. “They do not.”
Biden said his proposal would speed up the national vaccination program COVID, increase coronavirus testing capacity to help reopen businesses and schools, and provide $ 1,400 stimulus checks to Americans.