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U.S. NEWS Friday 20 March 2020
McConnell plan: $1,200 payments; $1T rescue takes shape

By ANDREW TAYLOR and panned Treasury Secretary
LISA MASCARO Steven Mnuchin's idea of
Associated Press direct checks of $3,000 for
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen- a family of four — prefer-
ate Majority Leader Mitch ring instead to use the fed-
McConnell proposed di- eral dollars to keep work-
rect payments of $1,200 ers who are asked to stay
per person and $2,400 for home on the business pay-
couples as part of an initial rolls.
Republican response Thurs- "What I want is income, not
day to the coronavirus out- one check," said Sen. Lind-
break. sey Graham, R-S.C., sum-
The GOP leader unveiled ming up the views of some
his plan as Congress raced exiting a long, private
to craft a $1 trillion res- meeting of GOP senators
cue package to shore up on Capitol Hill.
households, healthcare Trump administration of-
and the U.S. economy ficials, including Mnuchin
amid the pandemic crisis and economic adviser Lar-
and nationwide shutdown ry Kudlow, are expected
that's hurtling the country to return to Capitol Hill on
toward a likely recession. Friday to launch bipartisan
"We need to take bold negotiations with Senate
and swift action as soon as Democrats.
possible," McConnell, an- House Speaker Nancy Pe- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., walk to attend a Republican policy lunch on
Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 19, 2020.
nouncing his plan on the losi, on a conference call Associated Press
Senate floor. with more than 220 House
It's an opening salvo in fast- Democrats, urged them to
track talks with Democrats "think big," according to
as President Donald Trump people on the call granted
urges Congress to "go big" anonymity to discuss it.
to respond as Americans Pelosi reminded them after
reel from the crisis. her recent talk with Federal
Under the GOP leader's Reserve Chairman Jerome
plan, the aid would be Powell that interest rates
phased out at income are low. The outlay should
thresholds of $75,000 for in- be considered an invest-
dividuals and $150,000 per ment, Pelosi told them.
couple. Additionally, there Democrats compiling their
would be $500 payments own priorities in the House
for each child. and Senate suggest other
McConnell's proposal ways to keep paychecks
aligns with the Trump ad- flowing in what Senate
ministration's push to swiftly Democratic Leader Chuck
send a first round of checks Schumer called "employ-
to American households for ment insurance" — which
immediate needs. he characterized as "un-
Additionally, the McCon- employment insurance on
nell plan would provide steroids."
$300 billion in loans to small Schumer said utilizing the
businesses, including loans existing unemployment in-
that would eventually be surance system run by the
forgiven for employers who states would be a "quick
use them to meet payroll and easy" way to distribute
expenses. money to the newly jobless.
Keeping paychecks flow- "People desperately need
ing for idled workers as it," Schumer said.
jobless claims skyrocket is The swift-moving effort in
a top priority for both Re- an all-but-shuttered Capi-
publican and Democrat- tol came as the first two
ic plans emerging from lawmakers tested positive
Congress. But how best to for the COVID-19 virus, oth-
send direct payments to ers are self-isolating and
Americans — as one-time the usually tradition-bound
stipends, ongoing payroll Congress faced calls to
support or unemployment ease rules and allow re-
checks — is a crucial de- mote voting.
bate. Unlike the airline bailout af-
Democrats have their own ter the 9/11 attacks, there
proposals for ushering aid would not be direct cash
to Americans, and even grants to airlines, accord-
McConnell's GOP senators ing to the bill.q