Ten G.O.P. senators sketch out a bipartisan relief
bill in a letter to Biden.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/01/31/world/covid-19-coronavirus
Ten
Republican senators wrote to President Biden on Sunday, outlining a framework
for coronavirus relief legislation and pushing for Mr. Biden to compromise. The
letter came as Democrats were preparing to bypass the need for Republican
support in order to deliver a sweeping relief package.
The 10
senators, led by Susan Collins of Maine, proposed a framework that includes
some of the provisions in Mr. Biden’s $1.9 trillion plan but would curtail
others. It would include $160 billion for vaccine distribution and development,
Covid testing and the production of personal protective equipment, along with
relief for schools, small businesses and “more targeted assistance” for
individuals through another round of direct payments and unemployment benefits.
“Our
proposal reflects many of your stated priorities, and with your support, we
believe that this plan could be approved quickly by Congress with bipartisan
support,” the senators wrote.
The group,
which also includes Mitt Romney of Utah, Michael Rounds of South Dakota, Lisa
Murkowski of Alaska and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, is expected to
release additional details of their proposal on Monday.
To pass a
package through the regular legislative process, Mr. Biden would need 60 votes
in the Senate, and therefore the support of at least 10 Republicans.
Mr. Biden
and top Democrats have said they want Republican support for a new relief bill.
But with several Republicans already balking at passing a sweeping package,
Democrats are preparing to pass a bill on their own using budget
reconciliation, a legislative process that is more complicated but requires
only a simple majority in the Senate.
— Emily Cochrane
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário