Despite 'productive' Republican meeting, Biden will not accept a scaled-down COVID-19 bill - White House

[webfact]

Despite 'productive' Republican meeting, Biden will not accept a scaled-down COVID-19 bill - White House

By Jarrett Renshaw and David Morgan

 

U.S. President Joe Biden walks from Marine One to the White House in Washington, U.S., January 29, 2021. REUTERS/Tom Brenner

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After meeting with Republican senators at the White House on Monday, President Joe Biden appeared poised to push forward with his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan even if it fails to draw Republican support.

 

While the White House termed Biden's discussion with 10 Republicans who pitched a downsized relief effort as "productive," the Democratic president told the senators their plan did not go far enough.

 

Biden told the group "that he will not slow down work on this urgent crisis response, and will not settle for a package that fails to meet the moment," White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

 

The Republicans who attended the meeting are pushing a COVID-19 relief proposal about one third the size of Biden's.

 

Earlier on Monday, top Democrats in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives filed a joint $1.9 trillion budget measure, a step toward bypassing Republicans altogether on a new virus relief bill.

 

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced the plan for the fiscal-year 2021 budget measure in the Senate and House, saying it would allow Congress to fast-track a coronavirus package for passage by both chambers.

 

The measure would allow Democrats to bypass a 60-vote threshold in the closely divided Senate and enact coronavirus legislation with a simple majority through a procedure called reconciliation.

 

It would mark the first time congressional Democrats used the maneuver to flex their legislative muscle since winning razor-thin control of the Senate in two runoff elections last month in Georgia.

 

The 100-seat Senate is divided 50-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris holding the tie-breaking vote to give Democrats the majority.

 

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is expected to meet with Senate Democrats on the relief measure on Tuesday, the department said.

 

Schumer spoke ahead of the Oval Office meeting on Monday evening among Biden, Harris and the 10 Republican senators, who have proposed a $618 billion relief package.

 

Susan Collins, one of the Republicans attending, said the discussion was "frank and useful" but yielded no breakthroughs. She said the sides would keep talking.

 

What “we did agree to do was to follow up and talk further at the staff level and amongst ourselves and with the president and vice president on how we can continue to work together on this very important issue,” Collins said.

 

Biden affirmed to the group, however, that he was prepared to push through a comprehensive bill with a party-line vote, Psaki said.

 

The president "reiterated that while he is hopeful that the Rescue Plan can pass with bipartisan support, a reconciliation package is a path to achieve that end," Psaki said.

 

COVID-19 has claimed more than 440,000 lives in the United States, the most of any country, and cost millions of Americans their jobs.

 

'MUST-HAVES'

The Republican plan offers no assistance to state and local governments, one of the items that a Biden adviser described as "must-haves" for Democrats in Congress.

 

According to details released by the lawmakers, the Republican proposal also falls short on another must-have by offering only $1,000 in direct payments to Americans, compared with the $1,400 sought by Biden.

 

"We have not seen many red lines drawn publicly by Democrats in Congress. I think we will see those red lines if the White House considers taking some things out or delaying some items," the adviser said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

 

Passage of new relief legislation would not only affect Americans and businesses but offer an early test of Biden's promise to work to bridge the partisan divide in Washington.

 

Ten Republican votes, combined with the backing of 50 Democrats and independents, would be enough to move bipartisan legislation quickly through the Senate. There was little cooperation between the two parties on major legislation in Congress under Republican former President Donald Trump.

 

Senator Pat Toomey, who does not back the compromise proposal offered by fellow Republicans, said in a statement that the government needed to focus on vaccine distribution at this juncture of the pandemic rather than economic stimulus.

 

"Once we’ve made significant progress on this goal, then Congress can revisit what pockets of the economy still require assistance,” Toomey said.

 

(Reporting by David Morgan and Jarrett Renshaw; Writing by James Oliphant; Editing by Heather Timmons and Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-02-02

 

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[pegman]

Americans love their dramas. 

[Jeffr2]

1 hour ago, pegman said:

Americans love their dramas. 

Actually, it's the Republicans.  Playing games instead of helping their constituents.  Some of whom desperately need help.

[Eric Loh]

Good on you Joe. US need a big stimulus package to get out of the rut that Trump created. It’s dejavu 2009 and Dems learnt their lesson well. Those do nothing Reps are just doing their usual resistance without merits. Roll them over Joe. 

[wombat]

38 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Good on you Joe. US need a big stimulus package to get out of the rut that Trump created. It’s dejavu 2009 and Dems learnt their lesson well. Those do nothing Reps are just doing their usual resistance without merits. Roll them over Joe. 

confuses the <deleted> out of me, the one before wanted to give more but got knocked back, now its all his fault?

[Jeffr2]

1 hour ago, wombat said:

confuses the <deleted> out of me, the one before wanted to give more but got knocked back, now its all his fault?

The one before only wanted to give more to make the dems look bad.  That package was negotiated for 8 months and Trump just in the week before it was suppose to be approved.  He never backed the big check until it was too late.  So you, it's all his fault.  Including the sad state of affairs due to the botched virus response from him and his enablers.

[Isaan sailor]

Currency traders will follow this closely.  If the progressive side wins big stimulus—traders will dump USD positions.  If you’re an expat and living on fixed income—you will feel the pain.

[Sujo]

18 minutes ago, Isaan sailor said:

Currency traders will follow this closely.  If the progressive side wins big stimulus—traders will dump USD positions.  If you’re an expat and living on fixed income—you will feel the pain.

I dont think any congress or senate member cares about what expats think.

 

And they shouldnt.

[RJRS1301]

32 minutes ago, Isaan sailor said:

 If you’re an expat and living on fixed income—you will feel the pain.

How has the Covid affected your income, is it because of investments not returning your expected returns or other matters?

Having left the country, I wonder why you expect the packages to be extended to assit you, even if paying taxes there.

Live here cheaper, but expect stimulus , not sure about that one, please enlighten me.

 

[wwest5829]

3 hours ago, Isaan sailor said:

Currency traders will follow this closely.  If the progressive side wins big stimulus—traders will dump USD positions.  If you’re an expat and living on fixed income—you will feel the pain.

May well be true that the baht  exchange will affect me. But then first, my fellow middle class citizens need the help and, second, the $2,000 dollars this year (I have not received the $600.00 as yet) will, I do think offset the exchange rates.

[wwest5829]

2 hours ago, RJRS1301 said:

How has the Covid affected your income, is it because of investments not returning your expected returns or other matters?

Having left the country, I wonder why you expect the packages to be extended to assit you, even if paying taxes there.

Live here cheaper, but expect stimulus , not sure about that one, please enlighten me.

 

Cute but ... I live here because I can have a working middle class retirement I would be hard pressed to have in the USA. Before even thinking of going off on the tangent of getting educated, working harder ... but to check my profile. As long as my DNA remains a citizen of the USA (since the 1600s) I do claim equal status. Do tell, would you also try and deny my earned earned working middle class asocial Security because I have joined millions of Americans living outside US territory?

[nauseus]

3 hours ago, Isaan sailor said:

Currency traders will follow this closely.  If the progressive side wins big stimulus—traders will dump USD positions.  If you’re an expat and living on fixed income—you will feel the pain.

 

This is fundamentally correct from the historical aspect but as fundamentals seem to get ignored and sidelined these days..... then the reverse could actually happen....at least for a while.

[nauseus]

3 hours ago, Jeffr2 said:

The one before only wanted to give more to make the dems look bad.  That package was negotiated for 8 months and Trump just in the week before it was suppose to be approved.  He never backed the big check until it was too late.  So you, it's all his fault.  Including the sad state of affairs due to the botched virus response from him and his enablers.

 

And Pelosi was dragging her feet the whole time...until after the election of course. 

[Tug]

Negotiate in good faith perhaps compermise to a point but if the republicans change the goalposts or stonewall make it known get it on record and just steam roll them.make the wealthy pay their fair share to help defray the cost perhaps a few less aircraft carriers ect ect as far as devaluation of the dollar have you looked at the price of a new truck or house for that matter?trump left an epic size failure for us to fix just beggers belief sad scary and it truly sucks 

[Isaan sailor]

4 hours ago, RJRS1301 said:

How has the Covid affected your income, is it because of investments not returning your expected returns or other matters?

Having left the country, I wonder why you expect the packages to be extended to assit you, even if paying taxes there.

Live here cheaper, but expect stimulus , not sure about that one, please enlighten me.

 

Where did you get the idea I expect benefit from COVID-19?  BTW I pay more taxes to Uncle Sam as a retired expat—than I did working in USA.  I haven’t received one Dollar in Stimulus payments. I hope you feel enlightened now.

[RJRS1301]

9 hours ago, Isaan sailor said:

Where did you get the idea I expect benefit from COVID-19?  BTW I pay more taxes to Uncle Sam as a retired expat—than I did working in USA.  I haven’t received one Dollar in Stimulus payments. I hope you feel enlightened now.

Thank you

[Scott]

Post with false or misleading information has been reported and removed. 

 

[Pique Dard]

20 hours ago, webfact said:

President Joe Biden appeared poised to push forward with his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan even if it fails to draw Republican support.

huge amount of  money! but i think biden is doing the right thing! i do understand republicans' reaction, though,  as they think exactly like their boss who said "...nobody would talk about the pandemic after the elections"! so as far as they are concerned, the  covid-19 talk is just talk! 

[Credo]

I think it is a good idea to remember it is less than the $2 Billion Trump took from the military budget for his wall that never got very far.   

 

[placeholder]

15 hours ago, wwest5829 said:

Cute but ... I live here because I can have a working middle class retirement I would be hard pressed to have in the USA. Before even thinking of going off on the tangent of getting educated, working harder ... but to check my profile. As long as my DNA remains a citizen of the USA (since the 1600s) I do claim equal status. Do tell, would you also try and deny my earned earned working middle class asocial Security because I have joined millions of Americans living outside US territory?

The covid bill is or should be about giving the American economy a temporary assist. That's not the purpose of Social Security.

[wwest5829]

54 minutes ago, placeholder said:

The covid bill is or should be about giving the American economy a temporary assist. That's not the purpose of Social Security.

Disagree as I think the Covid Bill, first and foremost is about helping the citizens, not giving the economy an assist. We would agree on the results of citizens being able to pay for food, mortgages, etc. will result in my money being in the economy but with the limited amount, I do not see and increase in spending, rather a holding action. 

[pedro01]

The problem with the bill remains. Too much attached to it that isn't related to COVID.

 

A simple 1 page bill with just COVID relief would sail through.

[placeholder]

16 hours ago, nauseus said:

 

And Pelosi was dragging her feet the whole time...until after the election of course. 

Utterly false. It was Mitch MConnell and the Senate Republicans.

[placeholder]

6 minutes ago, pedro01 said:

The problem with the bill remains. Too much attached to it that isn't related to COVID.

 

A simple 1 page bill with just COVID relief would sail through.

So you believe that the 1.3 trillion difference between the "moderate" Republican version and the Democratic version consists of funds mostly not directed at the pandemic and its consequences?

[John Drake]

On 2/2/2021 at 10:24 AM, webfact said:

While the White House termed Biden's discussion with 10 Republicans who pitched a downsized relief effort as "productive," the Democratic president told the senators their plan did not go far enough.

 

Good. Tell'em to stuff it. Pass the entire package and more! I'm tired of this fiddle faddle.

[placeholder]

8 hours ago, wwest5829 said:

Disagree as I think the Covid Bill, first and foremost is about helping the citizens, not giving the economy an assist. We would agree on the results of citizens being able to pay for food, mortgages, etc. will result in my money being in the economy but with the limited amount, I do not see and increase in spending, rather a holding action. 

So, if it's first and foremost about helping it's citizens, that would mean that it's mostly not about Covid? Does that mean it would be justified even if there was no covid pandemic?

Joe Biden's $1,400 Stimulus Checks Would Not Be Spent by High Earners, Research Shows

"The study by economists at Opportunity Insights—a Harvard think tank funded by the family foundations of Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and Mike Bloomberg—suggests that middle-income Americans don't need any additional money in the form of a COVID relief payment as they failed to spend the $600 checks that Congress sent out in December.

The economists found that the $600 stimulus checks increased spending among lower-income households significantly, but had little impact on spending among higher-income households."

https://www.newsweek.com/joe-bidens-1400-stimulus-checks-would-not-spent-high-earners-research-shows-1566127

There's another study I read about today but now can't find it that says only 27% of the stimulus checks would be spent. That's really inefficient. That said, if that's what it takes to get this bill passed quickly, I'm for it.

 

 

[sirineou]

8 hours ago, pedro01 said:

The problem with the bill remains. Too much attached to it that isn't related to COVID.

 

A simple 1 page bill with just COVID relief would sail through.

Eny simple solution to a complex problem is sure to be wrong! 

 Everything contained in the bill is Pandemic related. 

the bill does not only address the virus but also the economic impact virus related closures has on the economy, and the long term impact businesses closing up will have. 

[pedro01]

3 hours ago, sirineou said:

Eny simple solution to a complex problem is sure to be wrong! 

 Everything contained in the bill is Pandemic related. 

the bill does not only address the virus but also the economic impact virus related closures has on the economy, and the long term impact businesses closing up will have. 

 

It's been discussed at length how much non-COVID spend is in this bill.

 

The majority of the money distributed in the bill is unrelated to COVID.

 

[Scott]

14 hours ago, pedro01 said:

The problem with the bill remains. Too much attached to it that isn't related to COVID.

 

A simple 1 page bill with just COVID relief would sail through.

I think it is a wise idea to provide some documentation for that statement.

 

[sirineou]

2 hours ago, pedro01 said:

 

It's been discussed at length how much non-COVID spend is in this bill.

 

The majority of the money distributed in the bill is unrelated to COVID.

 

I will admit as far as I know it is all covid, and covid economy related.  can you please point out some of the unrelated to covid pork ?

Not many only the most glaring ones.