Harris appeared on WSAZ to talk about the huge aid package, saying: “As far as your point in West Virginia is concerned, one in seven families is describing their home as starving, one in six cannot afford rent and one in four small businesses are permanently closing or have already closed, so it’s a big problem in West Virginia and across the country. ”
Manchin is part of a bipartisan group of senators who opposed the government’s aid plan, calling for direct payments of the proposed $ 1,400 to be directed to the most needy.
“We met with their economic team and they shared what they wanted,” said Manchin in response to Harris. “We want to help everyone who needs help. But if a person is earning $ 250,000 or $ 300,000, I don’t think they need it as much as a person who earns $ 40,000 or 50,000. It was all I said. score. “
The vice president’s office declined to comment on Manchin’s comments.
Manchin’s bipartisan group called Sunday with Brian Deese, director of the White House National Economic Council, Jeff Zients, coordinator of Biden’s coronavirus, and Louisa Terrell, head of legislative affairs at the White House, telling the government that the plan aid provides a lot of money to the wealthiest Americans.
Manchin called for targeted relief checks at CNN’s “State of the Union” on Jan. 10.
“I’m on board helping people who need help, people who really can’t survive, people who don’t have a job, can’t put food on the table. Full support in helping them,” he said. Manchin said on CNN’s “State of the Union”.
Democratic leaders have signaled that they will begin moving forward on a coronavirus package as early as next week, as part of an agreement with Republicans or through the budgetary reconciliation process.
Eugene Daniels contributed to this report.