He said in an interview that he was concerned that increased benefits could make it harder for employees to return to their workplaces, and that by summer “doors should be open and ready to go.” But democratic leaders are still not convinced of the change.
“They call it ‘targeting,’ which means that the sum total may not change, but the allocation may,” said Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). “I do not agree with them on the unemployment section.” Durbin discussed a closer focus on the stimulus controls of the bill. ‘
Democrats do not have much time to fight over the massive Covid measure, and the debate will start as early as Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has promised to send the bill to Biden’s desk before March 14, when the increased federal unemployment benefits will expire. The previous coronavirus assistance package, passed by Congress in December, provided $ 300 in additional weekly unemployment benefits to help repair a pandemic.
A group of moderate Senate Democrats spoke to Biden on Monday about the coronavirus relief package, and the president will speak to the entire Democratic caucus during the virtual lunch on Tuesday. Whether the centralists get the desired changes may depend on Biden’s conversation with the caucus.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) Said “the president believes, I believe, that the supplement should be $ 400.” But Manchin said he could not remember Biden taking a hard line and said that “Joe is in a difficult position because he has to beat people everywhere on the board.”
“He’s more likely to make the process work,” Manchin said of Biden’s confidence in the Senate Democrats to work it out.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorses the pressure to push back Biden’s bill. “We need Congress to rectify the policy with a lot of targeted assistance for those in need,” Neil Bradley, executive vice president and chief policy officer for the House, said in a statement. “As currently drafted, the U.S. rescue plan is not passing the test.”
Senate Democrats said Monday night that they should change the version of the coronavirus legislation that the House approved last week. The package includes a provision that would increase the federal minimum wage by 2025 to $ 15 per hour, which, according to the Senate MP, would violate the chamber’s rules if it remained in legislation.
‘I think it’s probably going to change, but pretty modest. That would be my guess, ‘Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) Said Monday night.
The Senate MP separately ruled Monday night that Democrats can keep health subsidies in the bill to help fired workers stay on their former employers’ health insurance. Democrats drafted several versions of the bill to comply with Senate rules. Nothing has been finalized before the Senate floor debate.
Democrats are pulling in a marathon voting session on the coronavirus package as soon as Thursday. Any senator can amend the bill in the likelihood that it will become an all-night affair on the Senate floor.
Once the Senate Bill is approved, the House will have to take it up again with the changes passed by the Senate before Congress can send the legislation to Biden’s desk.
Angus King (I-Maine) said Monday: “There really is not much controversy over the overall size of the account,” Angus King (I-Maine) said yesterday. The question is whether it can be targeted in such a way that it can better serve the people who need it most and perhaps free up funds for other priorities.