President Biden on Sunday invited a group of Republican senators to meet with him at the White House earlier this week after proposing a more specific financial aid package, but the administration gave no indication that be prepared to step out of its original $ 1.9 trillion proposal.
“As has been widely reported, the president has today received a letter from ten Republican senators asking him to meet with him to discuss his ideas on the actions needed to deal with these crises,” the press secretary said. of the White House Jen Psaki
Jen Psaki Menendez calls for sanction in Russia after Navalny protests. Biden signs executive orders at a furious pace. Biden and Yellen call for swift action against the MORE coronavirus relief package he said in a statement. “In response, the president spoke with Senator Collins and invited her and other signatories to the letter to come to the White House earlier this week for a full exchange of views.”
Ten Republicans from the Senate, led by the senator. Susan Collins
Susan Margaret CollinsBiden reactivates fight for immigration in Congress Paul says Roberts’ absence argues’ crystallized ‘against Trump’s ousting Democrats willing to obviate Republicans over COVID-19 relief project MORE (R-Maine), proposed their own framework earlier Sunday for a COVID-19 relief package. Sen. Bill Cassidy
Bill Cassidy Sunday shows preview: new variants of COVID-19 released in the US; Redditors shake Wall Street with Gamestop shares OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Biden signs a series of orders to address climate change | Republicans pressure Granholm on fossil fuels during confirmation hearing Republicans pressure Granholm on fossil fuels during confirmation hearing MORE (R-La.), Another senator involved in the effort, told Fox News Sunday that the GOP package scheme would total $ 600 billion and include direct payments of $ 1,000.
Biden has already proposed a $ 1.9 trillion package that includes $ 1,400 in direct payments, funding for schools and state and local governments, and money to increase vaccine distribution.
But Psaki’s statement underscored the White House’s position that Biden’s original proposal was of the necessary size and scope, making it unclear whether the two sides would find a way forward.
“With the virus posing a serious threat to the country and economic conditions being terrible for so many, the need to act is urgent and the scale of what needs to be done is large,” Psaki said. “As leading economists have said, The danger now is not to do too much: it is to do too little. Americans on both sides are looking to their leaders to know the moment.”
Biden and other officials have spread the word to Republicans in an attempt to gain bipartisan support for their relief proposal. But Republican senators have largely rejected the price and noted the relief package Congress passed in December to argue that another major bill does not yet need to be passed.
Leader of the Senate majority Charles Schumer
Chuck Schumer: Proposed Permanent Fencing at the Capitol Causes Bipartisan Retreat Immigration Reform Can’t Wait Psaki hopes DHS Mayorkas candidate to lead task force to reunite separated families MORE (DN.Y.) noted last week that Democrats were willing to participate alone in the coronavirus relief package, and that they would potentially begin the process as early as next week.
White House aides have been adamant that they do not support breaking the $ 1.9 trillion package and passing it piece by piece to get Republican support.
They have also indicated that the administration is open to approving the package through the budget conciliation process, which would allow the bill to be passed by a simple majority in each chamber. Passing legislation without reconciliation would require the support of at least ten Republicans in the Senate.
“I support the approval of the Covid relief with the support of Republicans if we can get it, but it has to happen. There is no yes, no yes and no harm,” Biden said Friday when asked if he supported it. reconciliation to approve the bill.