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The goal is to have coronavirus relief approved by March, when extra unemployment assistance and other pandemic aid expires, testing the ability of the new administration and Congress to deliver, with political risks for all sides from failure.
Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine called the meeting a “frank and very useful” conversation, noting that the president also filled in some details on his proposal.
“All of us are concerned about struggling families, teetering small businesses and an overwhelmed healthcare system,” said Collins, flanked by other senators outside the White House.
Republicans are tapping into bipartisan urgency to improve the nation’s vaccine distribution and vastly expand coronavirus testing with $160 billion in aid. That is similar to what Biden has proposed. But from there, the two plans drastically diverge.
The House is expected to pass the budget resolution on Wednesday. While the Senate faces tens of hours of debate, and a marathon session known as a vote-a-rama, Democrats are hoping to pass the resolution by the end of the week.
The decision to move forward comes after Biden met with a group of 10 GOP senators Monday night, with Republicans offering a $618 billion proposal.
Both sides agreed to keep talking, but the White House signaled after the meeting that they are comfortable with moving forward with reconciliation and want a big package. [Biden] 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. The President also made clear that the American Rescue Plan was carefully designed to meet the stakes of this moment, and any changes in it cannot leave the nation short of its pressing needs, said White House press secretary Jen Psaki
Senate to vote on budget resolution, readies Democrats COVID package Follow Us
Question of the Day By Alex Swoyer and Stephen Dinan - The Washington Times - Tuesday, February 2, 2021
Senators voted Tuesday to begin debating a budget resolution, taking the first steps toward approving a final COVID-19 relief package without any Republican support.
The 50-49 party-line vote kicks off a week-long process of debate and votes, which Democrats hope ends in passage.
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer said Democrats will not “dilute” or “delay” a rescue bill over GOP objections, pointing to shuttered schools and continued high unemployment claims as evidence of an immediate need.