Democrats will control both the White House and the House and Senate when Biden is inaugurated next week. One of their priorities is to launch a major epidemic stimulus package and a $2,000 bailout check.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Democrats may face challenges in getting these measures passed quickly given their slim majorities in both the House and Senate and potential procedural constraints.
“The COVID (Chinese Communist virus) emergency relief effort is far from complete.” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote in a letter to colleagues Tuesday (Jan. 12).
He said he would increase the total amount of epidemic relief checks paid directly to the American people to $2,000.
The next few weeks will be critical for Democrats, a period that will test President-elect Biden’s rhetoric about bipartisanship as Democrats decide how far they will go with Republicans and how they can use their limited but powerful legislative tools to pass their agenda without the support of the other party. Biden will release his detailed plan for epidemic relief on Thursday and call on Congress to provide trillions of dollars in funding.
Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who will soon chair the Senate Finance Committee, supports stimulus checks as well as epidemic-related health spending and expanded unemployment insurance tied to economic conditions.
Democrats broadly agree, but not everyone agrees, to prioritize increasing the $600 bailout check approved last month to $2,000, as they previously promised to do if they gain control of the Senate.
The federal government has already sent two direct cash payments to most American families. The first, up to $1,200 in check relief for individuals, was distributed last April; the second, up to $600 in check relief for individuals, will be distributed by Jan. 15. Democrats will move to increase the second check award by $1,400 to fulfill the promise of $2,000 in check relief. The Democratic stimulus bill will also include funds for vaccine distribution, small businesses, schools, and state and local government assistance.
“We will immediately move to make this happen,” Schumer said, “and as our first legislative effort, please be prepared to address additional COVID emergency relief legislation.”
It remains unclear, however, whether Democrats will get enough votes to pass a massive bailout bill. On Friday (8), moderate Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia said he would “absolutely not” support a $2,000 stimulus check to Americans, which could deal a fatal blow to the Democratic relief plan.
“Absolutely not, no.” Manchin told The Washington Post on Friday, when he was asked if he would support a new round of stimulus checks. “Getting people vaccinated, that’s job number one.” He said.
Manchin argued that Democrats need to focus on “how the money we’re investing right now can best help us bring back jobs and put people to work.”
Manchin also said he’s not sure that sending another check out to people who have previously received a relief check will solve the jobs problem.
President Trump and some Republicans last month expressed support for the $2,000 check relief, but some Republicans have voiced opposition, arguing that the universal handout is not targeted. Some people with six-figure incomes have not been hit by the epidemic and should not receive $2,000 check relief.
In addition, some Republicans have resisted some Democratic ideas for epidemic relief in previous negotiations, including aid to states that they say is unnecessary because states’ budgets have not taken the expected hit. Some Republicans say aid should be focused on those who need it most.
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