Democratic leaders are digging in their heels over another coronavirus stimulus package, saying they won’t go lower than $2 trillion, even as Republican leaders push for a slimmed down $500 billion bill.
President-elect Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer spoke yesterday about the need for a stimulus package that would likely include another round of direct payments to the public - $1,200 for individuals, $2,400 for married couples and $500 per dependent.
The three “discussed the urgent need for the Congress to come together in the lame duck session on a bipartisan basis to pass a bill that provides resources to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, relief for working families and small businesses, support for state and local governments trying to keep frontline workers on the payroll, expanded unemployment insurance, and affordable health care for millions of families,” a joint statement noted.
Republicans and Democrats have been negotiating for months over a second stimulus bill but with little progress. Those talks have mostly been on hold since Biden was declared the winner of the presidential race against incumbent Donald Trump. Trump is contesting the results of the election and control over the Senate will be decided in the Georgia Senate runoff.
$2 trillion bill
Politico reported Democrats would not be willing to go below $2 trillion while noting Pelosi had spoken to Senate Appropriations Chair Richard Shelby of Alabama about the stimulus. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has balked the higher price tag, however, floating a slimmed-down $500 billion bill. McConnell’s $500 billion does not include direct stimulus payments.
Shelby rejected the idea of a broad, high-ticket package.
“Democrats might not get a stimulus. They want a lot more than we’ll give. If they want a targeted bill for small businesses ... I think we could get that. But if they want what they’ve indicated they want, that won’t happen,” Shelby said.
What’s in the House package?
The HEROES bill – the Democrat-backed model for future plans - includes another round of direct payments as well as enhanced unemployment benefits. It also includes billions for state and cities and a national coronavirus contact tracing and testing program, as well as aid for small businesses.
The first round of direct payments to the public was approved in March during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic amid wide-spread shutdowns and soaring unemployment.
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Second stimulus check: Chances for another payment before end of the year appear slim - AL.com
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