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A28 u.s. news
Diamars 2 Februari 2021

Biden to meet Republicans who propose lesser virus aid

with a 51-vote majority in
the Senate, rather than the 60
votes typically needed to ad-
vance.

“If you can’t find bipartisan
compromise on COVID-19,
I don’t know where you can
find it,” said Ohio Sen. Rob
Portman, who also signed the
letter.
But even as Biden extended
the invitation to the Repub-
lican lawmakers, Psaki said
that $1,400 relief checks, sub-
stantial funding for reopen-
ing schools, aid to small busi-
nesses and hurting families,
and more is badly needed.
“As leading economists have
said, the danger now is not in
doing too much. It is in doing
too little,” Psaki said.
Biden also spoke on Sunday
with House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi and Senate Major-
ity Leader Chuck Schumer,
who are facing pressure from
the more liberal Democratic
members to move forward
with Biden’s legislation with
or without Republican sup-
port.
The other GOP senators in-
(AP) — President Joe new majority in Congress. edented set of crises. ... We some stimulus money. vited to meet with Biden are
Biden is to meet on Mon- The goal is for COVID pas- have got to act, and we have The meeting to be hosted by Lisa Murkowski of Alaska,
day with a group of 10 sage by March, when extra got to act now.” Biden would amount to the Mitt Romney of Utah, Shel-
Republican senators who unemployment assistance An invitation to the GOP most public involvement for ley Moore Capito of West
have proposed $618 billion and other pandemic aid ex- senators to meet at the White the president in the negotia- Virginia, Todd Young of In-
in coronavirus aid, about a pires. House came hours after tions for the next round of vi- diana, Jerry Moran of Kan-
third of the $1.9 trillion he “We recognize your calls for the lawmakers sent Biden a rus relief. sas, Mike Rounds of South
is seeking as congressional unity and want to work in letter on Sunday urging him White House press secre- Dakota, and Thom Tillis of
Democrats are poised to good faith with your Admin- to negotiate rather than try to tary Jen Psaki said Sunday North Carolina.
move ahead without GOP istration to meet the health, ram through his relief pack- that while Biden wants “a Brian Deese, the top White
support. economic, and societal chal- age solely on Democratic full exchange of views,” the House economic adviser
lenges of the COVID crisis,” votes. president remains in favor of leading the administration’s
The Republican group’s pro- the 10 GOP senators wrote The cornerstone of the GOP moving forward with the big- outreach to Congress, indi-
posal focuses on the pan- to Biden. “We share many of plan is $160 billion for the ger relief package. cated the White House could
demic’s health effects rather your priorities.” health care response — vac- “With the virus posing a grave be open to negotiating on
than its economic toll, tap- The overture from the co- cine distribution, a “massive threat to the country and eco- further limiting who would
ping into bipartisan urgency alition of 10 GOP senators, expansion” of testing, protec- nomic conditions grim for so receive stimulus checks.
to shore up the nation’s vac- mostly centrists, is an attempt tive gear and funds for rural many, the need for action is “That is certainly a place that
cine distribution and vastly to show that at least some in hospitals, according to a draft. urgent, and the scale of what we’re willing to sit down and
expanding virus testing with the Republican ranks want Other elements of the pack- must be done is large,” Psaki think about, are there ways
$160 billion in aid. Their to work with Biden’s new age are similar but at far lesser said. to make the entire package
slimmed down $1,000 di- administration, rather than amounts, with $20 billion to Winning the support of 10 more effective?” Deese said.
rect payments would go to simply operating as the op- reopen schools and $40 bil- Republicans would be sig- As a candidate, Biden said
fewer households than the position in the minority in lion for Paycheck Protection nificant for Biden in the 50- his decades in the Senate
$1,400 Biden has proposed, Congress. But Democrats are Program business aid. 50 Senate where Vice Presi- and his eight years as Barack
and they would avoid costly wary of using too much time Under the GOP propos- dent Kamala Harris is the Obama’s vice president give
assistance to states and cities courting GOP support that al, $1,000 direct payments tie-breaker. If all Democrats him credibility as a deal-mak-
that Democrats argue are just may not materialize or de- would go to individuals earn- were to back an eventual er and would help him bring
as important. liver too meager a package as ing up to $40,000 a year, or compromise bill, the legisla- Republicans and Democrats
Gone are Democratic priori- they believe happened during $80,000 for couples. The tion would reach the 60-vote to consensus on the most
ties such as a gradual lifting of the 2009 recovery. proposal would begin to threshold necessary to over- important matters facing the
the federal minimum wage to The accelerating talks came phase out the benefit after come potential blocking ef- country.
$15 an hour. as the Congressional Bud- that, with no payments for forts and pass under regular But less than two weeks into
Engaging the White House in get Office delivered mixed individuals earning more Senate procedures. his presidency, Biden has
high-profile bipartisan talks economic forecasts Monday than $50,000, or $100,000 The plea for Biden to give shown frustration with the
is certain to appeal to Biden’s with robust growth expected for couples. That’s less than bipartisan negotiations more pace of negotiations at a time
wish to unify the nation. But at a 4.5% annual rate but em- Biden’s proposal of$1,400 time comes as the presi- when the economy is show-
it may stall the Democrats’ ployment rates not to return direct payments at higher in- dent has shown signs of im- ing further evidence of wear
rush to roll out their broader to pre-pandemic levels for comes levels. patience as the more liberal from the pandemic. Last
budget resolutions for House several years. With Biden’s plan, the direct wing of his party considers week, 847,000 Americans ap-
and Senate votes as soon “We all want bipartisanship,” payments would be phased passing the relief package plied for unemployment
as this week as they lay the said Sen. Bernie Sanders, out at higher income levels, through a process known as benefits, a sign that layoffs re-
groundwork for approving a I-Vt., Sunday. “But right now and families with incomes budget reconciliation. That main high as the coronavirus
COVID relief bill with their this country faces an unprec- up to $300,000 could receive would allow the bill to pass pandemic continues to rage.