Page 2 - aruba-today-20210202

A2 UP FRONT
Tuesday 2 February 2021

Continued from Front "If you can't find bipartisan
Senate Majority Leader compromise on COVID-19,
Chuck Schumer warned I don't know where you can
that history is filled with "the find it," said Ohio Sen. Rob
costs of small thinking." Portman, who also signed
"The cost of inaction is high the letter.
and growing, and the time Brian Deese, the top White
for decisive action is now," House economic adviser
he and Speaker Nancy Pe- leading the administration's
losi said in a joint statement. outreach to Congress, in-
The goal is for approval dicated the administration
of COVID relief by March, could be open to negotiat-
when extra unemployment ing on limiting the income
assistance and other pan- thresholds for stimulus
demic aid expires. checks.
The overture from the co- "That is certainly a place
alition of 10 GOP senators, that we're willing to sit
mostly centrists, is an at- down and think about, are
tempt to show that at least there ways to make the en-
some in the Republican tire package more effec-
ranks want to work with tive?" Deese said.
Biden's new administration, Biden also spoke on Sunday
rather than simply operat- National Economic Council Director Brian Deese speaks during a press briefing at the White with House Speaker Nancy
ing as the opposition in the House, Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, in Washington. Pelosi and Senate Major-
minority in Congress. But Associated Press ity Leader Chuck Schumer,
Democrats are wary of us- who are facing pressure
ing too much time court- stance that "the risk is not funds for rural hospitals, ac- come levels, and families from the more liberal Dem-
ing GOP support that may that it is too big, this pack- cording to a draft. with incomes up to $300,000 ocratic members to move
not materialize or deliver- age, the risk is that it is too Other elements of the could receive some stimu- forward with Biden's legisla-
ing too meager a package small." package are similar to lus money. tion with or without Repub-
as they believe happened An invitation to the GOP Biden's plan but at far lesser The meeting to be hosted lican support.
during the 2009 recovery. senators to meet at the amounts, with $20 billion to by Biden would amount The other GOP senators in-
The accelerating talks White House came hours reopen schools compared to the most public involve- vited to meet with Biden
came as the Congressional after the lawmakers sent to $170 billion. The Repub- ment for the president in are Lisa Murkowski of Alas-
Budget Office delivered Biden a letter on Sun- licans offer $40 billion for the negotiations for the ka, Mitt Romney of Utah,
mixed economic forecasts day urging him to negoti- Paycheck Protection Pro- next round of virus relief. Shelley Moore Capito of

Monday with robust growth ate rather than try to ram gram business aid. Winning the support of 10 West Virginia, Todd Young
expected at a 4.5% an- through his relief package Under the GOP proposal, Republicans would be sig- of Indiana, Jerry Moran of
nual rate but employment solely on Democratic votes. $1,000 direct payments nificant for Biden in the 50- Kansas, Mike Rounds of
rates not to return to pre- "We recognize your calls for would go to individuals 50 Senate where Vice Presi- South Dakota, and Thom
pandemic levels for several unity and want to work in earning up to $40,000 a dent Kamala Harris is the Tillis of North Carolina.
years. good faith with your Admin- year, or $80,000 for couples. tie-breaker. If all Democrats As a candidate, Biden said
White House press secre- istration to meet the health, The proposal would begin were to back an eventual his decades in the Sen-
tary Jen Psaki said there is economic, and societal to phase out the benefit af- compromise bill, the legis- ate and his eight years as
"obviously a big gap" be- challenges of the COVID ter that, with no payments lation would reach the 60- Barack Obama's vice presi-
tween the $1.9 trillion pack- crisis," the 10 GOP senators for individuals earning more vote threshold necessary to dent give him credibility as
age Biden has proposed wrote to Biden. "We share than $50,000, or $100,000 overcome potential block- a deal-maker and would
and the $618 billion coun- many of your priorities." for couples. That's less than ing efforts and pass under help him bring Republicans
teroffer. The cornerstone of the Biden's proposal of$1,400 regular Senate procedures. and Democrats to consen-
Psaki said Monday that the GOP plan is $160 billion for direct payments at higher The plea for Biden to give sus on the most important
meeting with Republican the health care response incomes levels. bipartisan negotiations matters facing the country.
lawmakers would be an — vaccine distribution, a With Biden's plan, the di- more time comes as the But less than two weeks into
"exchange of ideas" but "massive expansion" of test- rect payments would be president has shown signs his presidency, Biden has
Biden would reiterate his ing, protective gear and phased out at higher in- of impatience as the more shown frustration with the
liberal wing of his party pace of negotiations at a
LIKE US ON considers passing the re- time when the economy is
lief package through a showing further evidence of
process known as budget wear from the pandemic.
reconciliation. That would Last week, 847,000 Ameri-
allow the bill to pass with cans applied for unem-
a 51-vote majority in the ployment benefits, a sign
Senate, rather than the 60 that layoffs remain high as
Facebook.com/arubatoday/ votes typically needed to the coronavirus pandemic
advance.
continues to rage.q