AP: Biden unveiling $1.9T coronavirus action plan

hanimmal

Well-Known Member
https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-financial-markets-janet-yellen-bills-coronavirus-pandemic-e5aa4373b5cf57f44ca21332c814b3af
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden panned a Republican alternative to his $1.9 trillion COVID rescue plan as insufficient as Senate Democrats pushed ahead, voting to launch a process that could approve his sweeping rescue package on their own, if Republicans refuse to support it.

Biden and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen joined the Democratic senators for a private virtual meeting Tuesday, both declaring the Republicans’ $618 billion offerwas too small. They urged big fast action to stem the coronavirus pandemic crisis and its economic fallout.

As the White House reaches for a bipartisan bill, Democrats marshaled their ever-slim Senate majority, voting 50-49, to start a lengthy process for approving Biden’s bill with or without GOP support. The goal is to have COVID-19 relief approved by March, when extra unemployment assistance and other pandemic aid expires.
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“President Biden spoke about the need for Congress to respond boldly and quickly,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said after the lunch meeting. “If we did a package that small, we’d be mired in the COVID crisis for years.”

The swift action from Democrats on Capitol Hill underscores the urgency of delivering Biden’s top legislative priority even as talks are progressing privately between Republicans and the White House, as well as with centrist Democrats, on potential changes to the package to win over broader bipartisan support.

Biden framed his views during the virtual lunch meeting with Democrats by talking about the need not to forget working and middle-class families — even those like nurses and pipefitters making $150,000 for a family of four — who are straining during the crisis, according to a person granted anonymity to discuss the private call.

The night before, Biden met with 10 Republican senatorspitching their $618 billion alternative, and let them know it was insufficient to meet the country’s needs. The president made it clear that he won’t delay aid in hopes of winning GOP support.

While no compromise was reached during the late Monday session, White House talks with Republicans are privately underway.

The outcome will test the new president striving to unify the country but confronting a rising COVID-19 death tolland stubbornly high jobless numbers, with political risks for all sides. Vaccine distributions, direct $1,400 payments to households, school reopenings and business aid are all on the line.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell criticized the Democrats for pressing ahead on their own. He said he had spoken to Biden ahead of his meeting with the 10 GOP senators.

“They’ve chosen a totally partisan path,” McConnell said. “That’s unfortunate.”

The two sides are far apart, with the Republican group of 10 senators focused primarily on the health care crisis and smaller $1,000 direct aid to Americans than the $1,400 payments Biden proposed, while the president is leading Democrats toward a more sweeping rescue plan to shore up households, local governments and a partly shuttered economy.

At the White House, press secretary Jen Psaki reiterated Biden’s view that the risk is not in crafting too large a package, but in providing too little aid. She said the president was hopeful GOP ideas will be brought forward, and said nothing precludes Republicans from participating in the process.

“We need to make sure people get the relief they need,” she said.

White House officials have previously cited the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as evidence of broad support for their plan, but the nation’s most prominent business group issued a letter Tuesday that urged a bipartisan compromise.

“There ought to be common ground for a bipartisan proposal that can become law,” Neil Bradley, executive vice president and chief policy officer, said in an interview.

The cornerstone of the GOP plan is $160 billion for the health care response — vaccine distribution, a “massive expansion” of testing, protective gear and funds for rural hospitals, similar to what Biden has proposed.

But from there, the two plans drastically diverge. Biden proposes $170 billion for schools, compared to $20 billion in the Republican plan. Republicans also would give nothing to states, money that Democrats argue is just as important, with $350 billion in Biden’s plan to keep police, fire and other workers on the job.

The GOP’s $1,000 direct payments would go to fewer households, individuals earning up to $40,000 a year, or $80,000 for couples. That’s less than Biden’s proposal of $1,400 direct payments at higher income levels, up to $300,000 for some households..

The Republicans offer $40 billion for Paycheck Protection Program business aid. But gone are Democratic priorities such as a gradual lifting of the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.

According to Schumer, Biden told Democratic senators he had let the Republicans know “he’s willing to make some modifications.”

But both Biden and Yellen recalled the lessons of the government response to the 2009 financial crisis, which some have since said was inadequate as conditions worsened. Biden said he told the Republicans their offer was “way too small,” Schumer said.

Winning the support of 10 Republicans would be significant, potentially giving Biden the votes needed in the 50-50 Senate to the 60-vote threshold typically required to advance legislation. Vice President Kamala Harris is the tie-breaker.

Wary Democrats pushed ahead with Tuesday’s vote, unwilling to take too much time in courting GOP support that may not materialize or may lead to too meager a package.

The procedural steps are groundwork for eventual approval under the budget reconciliation process that would allow the bill to pass with a 51-vote majority in the Senate, rather than the 60 votes typically needed.

The vote Tuesday opens 50 hours of debate on a budget resolution, with amendment votes expected later this week. The House is poised to launch a similar process.
 

HGCC

Well-Known Member

Fogdog

Well-Known Member
I'm kinda skeptical that the dems will come through for the people. Will see how it goes.
What do you consider an acceptable package?

What I've heard they are talking about is directing payments to people who aren't rich. Would you consider cutting out people making more than 75k/yr individual income a nonstarter?

"Biden said he was willing to compromise on who will be eligible for the next round stimulus checks — but remained firm on the size of the $1,400 payment, according to multiple sources on the call.

“Let’s stick together, I have your back and I hope you’ll have mine,” Biden told House Democrats in his first meeting with the group since taking office."


I get that some Bernie babies are against anything but shooting for the moon. They will never be satisfied by what is done.
 

Kervork

Well-Known Member
Go ahead and laugh but Vermin's pony plan is actually every bit as sane as the shit Washington is cranking out now.

Keep printin da money an $75K/yr gonna be poverty line.
 

HGCC

Well-Known Member
I should be less pessimistic, but I really do think that amounts going to change. A mistake I thought Obama made was to continually try and compromise with people that come to the table in bad faith.

Its hard to peg a dollar amount on where it should be phased out as cost of living is wildly different across the country. Hitting up that coming to the table in bad faith, dems made big inroads in the suburbs of cities, 75k isnt that much in most of those places, you are middle class. In more rural or less expensive cities that seems like a lot of money to make and is reasonable to think those people wouldn't be struggling, its a good way to stick a wedge in and split people. If the dems make a compromise like that it will push some of those gains back into the R column.

Edit: I guess I dont have a good explanation of what i would consider coming through for the people. Will wait and see what they come up with. I would point out that biden pitched everyone on 2k stimulus checks that would go out the door if they took Georgia. I guess you can argue that the 1400 and that previous 600 that trump gave out makes up the 2k, but thats a bit dubious. It then gets further watered down in who should get it. Will see whats next.
 
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hanimmal

Well-Known Member
I should be less pessimistic, but I really do think that amounts going to change. A mistake I thought Obama made was to continually try and compromise with people that come to the table in bad faith.

Its hard to peg a dollar amount on where it should be phased out as cost of living is wildly different across the country. Hitting up that coming to the table in bad faith, dems made big inroads in the suburbs of cities, 75k isnt that much in most of those places, you are middle class. In more rural or less expensive cities that seems like a lot of money to make and is reasonable to think those people wouldn't be struggling, its a good way to stick a wedge in and split people. If the dems make a compromise like that it will push some of those gains back into the R column.

Edit: I guess I dont have a good explanation of what i would consider coming through for the people. Will wait and see what they come up with. I would point out that biden pitched everyone on 2k stimulus checks that would go out the door if they took Georgia. I guess you can argue that the 1400 and that previous 600 that trump gave out makes up the 2k, but thats a bit dubious. It then gets further watered down in who should get it. Will see whats next.
I defiantly agree them watering down the stimulus check is pretty sad (if they do it and get nothing for their troubles).

The $75k ($150k for married couples) is a tight line, and that the Republicans have been acting in bad faith since Obama's inauguration, so I agree that they should not waste time trying to get them to the table. Hell Mitch finally had to give up on his power transfer delay yesterday.

I am not that optimistic that with only 50+VP majority that Biden will be able to get much done outside of Executive actions (Manchin from WV is already saying they are doing too much, which potentially stops everything, and him and AZ Cinema not allowing them to pass filibuster rules), so I am very hopeful that 2022 is a big win for Democrats. That way Biden can get a lot done in his terms last two years and hopefully set it up for a great 2025 and on.

Georgia set America up the best they could to get the power to halt everything in DC out of McConnell's hands, the rest of the country needs to do their part in 2022 to get the only party trying to legislate for 100% of the nation the power to actually pass their agenda next.


https://www.rollitup.org/t/2022-elections-the-steady-march-for-sanity-continues.1036620/
 

schuylaar

Well-Known Member

hanimmal

Well-Known Member
disappointing considering we have the House and Senate..why did he even put it in there only to dash our hopes? he could get rid of student loans with an EO. why isn't he?


moral imperative doesn't spend well at the store.
It sounds like the way they are pushing the bill through with only Democratic votes they can't actually include it.

Also it is just the first shot at it too. They have a 2nd chance and getting the Covid relief out to the states and people is too important to not pass it.
 

schuylaar

Well-Known Member
It sounds like the way they are pushing the bill through with only Democratic votes they can't actually include it.

Also it is just the first shot at it too. They have a 2nd chance and getting the Covid relief out to the states and people is too important to not pass it.
why?
 

Fogdog

Well-Known Member
disappointing considering we have the House and Senate..why did he even put it in there only to dash our hopes? he could get rid of student loans with an EO. why isn't he?


moral imperative doesn't spend well at the store.
The bill is for emergency relief to help people get through this time of high unemployment. Not all Democratic Party Senators are on board with increasing the minimum wage. What do you prefer? A 1.9 T rescue package now or everything you want some other time if ever?
 

schuylaar

Well-Known Member
The bill is for emergency relief to help people get through this time of high unemployment. Not all Democratic Party Senators are on board with increasing the minimum wage. What do you prefer? A 1.9 T rescue package now or everything you want some other time if ever?
i agree.

let's talk about why they're not on board with it.

why doesn't Manchin say he's a republican already?

while the housing index might be different in WV, a cup 'o Starbucks isn't.

perhaps those who live in states with no revenue shouldn't be calling the shots for those who do.
 
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