President Biden and a group of ten GOP senators agreed on Monday to hold additional negotiations on coronavirus relief, as they want to find room to draw up a dual agreement.
The group of Republicans met with Biden in the White House for about two hours on Monday, which was significantly longer than one of the two parties expected the meeting to last. Both sides described the meeting as productive, although the White House indicated that Biden would not back down from his demand for a strong package, despite opposition from Republicans.
Sen. Susan Collins
Susan Margaret CollinsBiden meeting with GOP senators Monday on coronavirus relief Biden invites GOP senators to White House for emergency talks The president has changed, but Washington has NO LONGER (R-Maine), which took the lead in trying to negotiate an agreement, called the meeting “very productive” and “cordial.”
“It was a very good exchange of views. I would not say that we met on a package tonight, no one expected it in a two-hour meeting. But what we did agree on was to put the staff on “Follow and talk to the staff. Level and among each other and with the President and Vice-President about how we can continue to work together on this very important issue,” Collins said outside the White House on Monday night.
The White House called the meeting “productive” and “substantive” in a statement, but added that Biden had reiterated that while he hoped the rescue plan could succeed with dual support, a reconciliation package was a way to achieve it. . ‘ The White House has also made it clear that Biden believes the $ 618 billion proposal unveiled by GOP senators falls short.
“While there were areas of agreement, the president also reiterated his view that Congress should respond with boldness and urgency, and he noted many areas that did not address the Republican senators’ proposal,” the White House press secretary said. Jen Psaki
Jen PsakiBiden meeting with IDP senators on Monday on coronavirus relief Biden invites IDP senators to the White House for emergency relief talks said. “The president has also made it clear that the US rescue plan is carefully designed to meet the interests of this moment, and that any nation cannot meet the country’s urgent needs.”
The meeting was a sign of Biden’s first visit to lawmakers in the Oval Office, which Collins presented to reporters.
“[It] “was an excellent meeting, and we are very grateful that the President chose as his first official meeting in the Oval Office to spend so much time with us in an open and very helpful discussion,” she said.
The IDP group used the sitting to explain their $ 618 billion coronavirus proposal to Biden, Vice President Harris and top assistants. The White House also provided more details on its $ 1.9 billion package after senators in both parties demanded more details on how the government came up with its proposal.
Collins – the only GOP senator who spoke after the meeting – did not address the Democratic leadership’s decision this week to lay the groundwork for the adoption of a simple majority coronavirus bill, which would enable them to Bypass GOP support if needed.
Instead, she noted that Congress had previously been able to negotiate dual coronavirus relief bills. Many of the senators were part of the so-called 908 coalition that at the end of last year proposed a framework that the leadership attributed to breaking a month-long stalemate.
“We have shown over the past year that we can come together on a dual package. … I am hopeful that we can once again pass a sixth dual assistance package from COVID,” Collins said.
However, there are big differences between the package offered by the GOP group and the larger $ 1.9 billion supported by Democrats. While Biden prefers to sign a bill with GOP support, the White House on Monday made it clear that he would support the Democrats in passing the bill through reconciliation with a simple majority.
The IDP proposal includes $ 160 million in funding for pandemic responses, including protective equipment and more money for the distribution of vaccines. It also extends the federal unemployment benefit from $ 300 per week until June 30.
The bill includes a direct payment of $ 1,000 to Americans, compared to the $ 1,400 direct payment in Biden’s plans, with $ 500 for adults and children. The proposal also reduces the income tax for qualifying for direct assistance.
According to previous coronavirus accounts, individuals earning up to $ 75,000 will receive the check, with the amount phasing out the payment thereafter. But according to the IDP proposal, individuals making up to $ 40,000 would get a check for $ 1,000, with the amount of the check being completely phased out at $ 50,000.
It also includes $ 20 billion in additional funding for schools, $ 20 billion in child care, an additional $ 50 billion in small business assistance, $ 12 billion in nutritional assistance and $ 4 billion in health care for behavior.
But incoming chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Ron Wyden
Ronald (Ron) Lee WydenHillicon Valley: Reddit-powered stock crashes, buyout continues Lawmakers grieve NSA over years of violations in the wake of massive Russian hack It is understood that Facebook is considering antitrust lawsuit against Apple Lawmakers NSA over years of violation in the wake of the massive Russian hack. Legislators are proposing bill to repeal the SALT deduction limit. (D-Ore.) Warned that the IDP offer did not go far enough, and an example of the setback Biden is likely to face if he agrees to go significantly lower.
‘The package set out by ten Republicans from the Senate is far too small to provide the relief the American people need. In particular, the three-month unemployment benefit extension is not an appetizer. “We can not jump from cliff to cliff every few months,” Wyden said in a statement, adding that “an extension of benefits for at least six months is essential.”
Democratic Sen. Jon Tester
Jonathan (Jon) Tester Native groups are campaigning against ABC’s Big Sky ‘secretary nominated sail by confirmation hearing. To protect our parks, push the rental MORE (Mont.), One of the more moderate members of the caucus, also warned that he does not think the IDP plan is big enough.
“I think it should be bigger than that … If we have to come back time and time again, I just think it’s not good for the economy, I think it’s not good for security,” Tester said.
The meeting comes hours after the Senate’s majority leader Charles Schumer
Chuck Schumer Congress Democrats Are On The Wrong Side Of Politics For Accusation Proposal For Permanent Capitol Fence Sparks Dual Backlash Immigration Reform Can’t Wait Anymore (DN.Y.) and Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiBiden meeting with GOP senators on Monday on coronavirus relief Portman says Republican leadership ‘should stand up’ to Greene’s comments Congress Democrats are MORE on the wrong side of accusation politics. (D-Calif.) Has tabled a budget resolution that would include instructions to draft a $ 1.9 billion bill that Democrats could pass under reconciliation, enabling them to pass a 60-vote legislative filibuster to avoid.
“Democrats welcome the ideas and input of our Republican colleagues in the Senate. The only thing we can not accept is a package that is too small or too narrow to pull our country out of this emergency. We can not fault it. of 2009, “Schumer told the Senate floor.
– Morgan Chalfant contributed.
– Updated 20:57