It s the first significant legislative response to the pandemic since the landmark CARES Act in March, which delivered $1.8 trillion in aid and more generous jobless benefits and direct payments to individuals. Since then, Democrats have repeatedly called for ambitious further federal steps to provide relief and battle the pandemic, while Republicans have sought to more fully reopen the economy and to avoid padding the government s $27 trillion debt.
President-elect Joe Biden is eager for an aid package to prop up the economy and deliver direct aid to the jobless and hungry, even though the package falls short of what Democrats want. He called the emerging version “an important down payment and promised more help next year.
12/16/2020 2:23:20 AM GMT | By Dhwani Mehta
However, Schumer refrained from divulging any details/ discussion on how the talks are progressing.
“Schumer had no plans to leave yet tonight,” ABC News reports, citing Schumer’s aide.
His comments come following the conclusion of the second meeting in the day between US House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Earlier today, McCarthy said that now we are continuing to work. I think there is progress.
Separately, the outgoing US President Donald Trump announced that he will hold a Cabinet meeting at 1630 GMT on Wednesday.
Market reaction
I recently learned a new word for where the GOP has been heading for decades.
âMinoritarianismâ isnât in Merriam-Webster yet, but Wikipedia says itâs a term for a political structure that gives a minority segment of the population a certain degree of dominance.
Itâs been that way for some time, but with their coup attempt, Donald Trump and the rest of his partyâs radical wing are striving for dominance of more than a certain degree.
President-elect Joe Biden won decisively in both the Electoral College and the popular vote. Yet our own state Sen. Dave Argall fanned the minoritarian flames by hosting the Gettysburg stop of Trumpâs traveling insurrection campaign.
Republican Party must finally learn to fight, Trump added. People are angry!
In his tweet, the president shared an article titled Trump s allies slam Mitch McConnell for congratulating Biden.
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Trump s allies slam Mitch McConnell for congratulating Biden https://t.co/ak9nu6420L via @MailOnline. Mitch, 75,000,000 VOTES, a record for a sitting President (by a lot). Too soon to give up. Republican Party must finally learn to fight. People are angry! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 16, 2020
During floor remarks on Tuesday, McConnell for the first time acknowledged Biden as president-elect. The Electoral College has spoken, so today I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden. The president-elect is no stranger to the Senate. He s devoted himself to public service for many years, McConnell said during his remarks. He also noted Vice President-elect Kamala Harris