Senate GOP Proposes a "Targeted" Covid-19 Relief Bill
Updated: Sep 9, 2020
What Happened:
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Tuesday that the Senate would vote on a much smaller Republican created coronavirus relief package of about $500 billion. The vote, which is being pushed to occur on Thursday, will be on a procedural measure on whether to consider the legislation and is considered unlikely to pass.
McConnell acknowledged that the vote has a very slim chance of passing as the Democrats' have insisted more aid is necessary and this bill offers far less than what the Democrats are seeking.
Says McConnell, “Republicans believe the many serious differences between our two parties should not stand in the way of agreeing where we can agree.”
“Republicans believe the many serious differences between our two parties should not stand in the way of agreeing where we can agree.” - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R)
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday criticized the Republican proposal calling it an "emaciated bill" that doesn't come close to addressing the needs of the American people. They implied that this vote is purely for political reasons to try and help vulnerable Republican senators look good before their November elections.
Negotiations for a second Coronavirus stimulus package have reached a standstill with both sides unwilling to budge. Democrats are seeking a relief package of around $2.5 Trillion, while Republicans are looking to pass a much narrower stimulus package in the range of $1 Trillion. These negotiations have been ongoing for several months and it is looking more and more unlikely that a second relief bill will be passed before the November election.
Photo Credit: United States Senate