Biden to meet Republicans proposing USD 618 billion virus aid

The Republicans propose slimmer benefits, including USD 1,000 in direct payments to individuals earning up to USD 40,000 a year, or USD 80,000 for couples, according to a draft obtained by The Associated Press. The proposal would begin to phase out the benefit after that, with no payments for those individuals earning more than $50,000, or USD 100,000 for couples. That''s less than Biden''s proposal for USD 1,400 direct payments at higher incomes levels. 

The cornerstone of the GOP plan appears to be USD 160 billion for the health care response — vaccine distribution, a “massive expansion” of testing, protective gear and funds for rural hospitals, according to the draft. 

Others elements of the package are similar but at far lesser amounts, with USD 20 billion to reopen schools and USD 40 billion for Paycheck Protection Program business aid. 

An invitation to the GOP senators to meet at the White House came hours after the lawmakers sent Biden a letter on Sunday urging him to negotiate rather than try to ram through his relief package solely on Democratic votes. The House and Senate are on track to vote as soon as this week on a budget resolution, which would lay the groundwork for passing an aid package under rules requiring only a simple majority vote in the closely divided Senate. 

The goal is for passage by March, when extra unemployment assistance and other pandemic aid expires. The meeting to be hosted by Biden would amount to the most public involvement for the president in the negotiations for the next round of virus relief. Democratic and Republican lawmakers are far apart in their proposals for assistance. 

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Sunday that Biden had spoken with the leader of the group, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. Though Biden wants “a full exchange of views," Psaki reiterated that the president remains in favour of moving forward with a far-reaching relief package. 

“With the virus posing a grave threat to the country, and economic conditions grim for so many, the need for action is urgent, and the scale of what must be done is large," Psaki said. 

In challenging Biden to fulfill his pledge of unity, the group said in its letter that its counterproposal will include USD 160 billion for vaccines, testing, treatment and personal protective equipment and call for more targeted relief than Biden''s plan to issue USD 1,400 stimulus checks for most Americans. 

Winning the support of 10 Republicans would be significant for Biden in the 50-50 Senate where Vice President Kamala Harris is the tie-breaker. If all Democrats were to back an eventual compromise bill, the legislation would reach the 60-vote threshold necessary to overcome potential blocking efforts and pass under regular Senate procedures. 

“In the spirit of bipartisanship and unity, we have developed a COVID-19 relief framework that builds on prior COVID assistance laws, all of which passed with bipartisan support,” the Republican senators wrote. “Our proposal reflects many of your stated priorities, and with your support, we believe that this plan could be approved quickly by Congress with bipartisan support.” 

The plea for Biden to give bipartisan negotiations more time comes as the president has shown signs of impatience as the more liberal wing of his party considers passing the relief package through a process known as budget reconciliation. That would allow the bill to advance with only the backing of his Democratic majority. 

The Republicans did not provide many details of their proposal. One of the signatories, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, said that it would cost about $600 billion. 

“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 Republican lawmakers, Psaki said that USD 1,400 relief checks, substantial funding for reopening schools, aid to small businesses 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. “Americans of both parties are looking to their leaders to meet the moment.” 

Biden also spoke on Sunday with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who are facing a growing push from the more liberal Democratic members to move forward with Biden''s legislation with or without Republican support. 

The other GOP senators invited to meet with Biden are Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Todd Young of Indiana, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Mike Rounds of South Dakota, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina.