It is. Bill Cassidy
Bill Cassidy on Sunday shows preview: new COVID-19 variants spread in the USA; Redditors shake up Wall Street with Gamestop shares OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Biden signs a series of orders to combat climate change | Republicans press fossil fuels on Granholm during confirmation hearing Republicans press fossil fuels on Granholm during confirmation hearing MORE (R-La.) He said Sunday that the framework for a COVID-19 economic aid package revealed by 10 Republican senators will cost $ 600 billion, less than half the price of the $ 1.9 trillion Biden administration proposal.
Cassidy said in “Fox News Sunday” that the reduced GOP proposal presented earlier Sunday includes direct payments of $ 1,000 to individuals that would be targeted at certain income levels. He did not specify whether the GOP threshold would be those who earned less than $ 75,000 in fiscal year 2019. President Biden’s proposal includes a third round of $ 1,400 direct payments.
Funding for schools is also reduced in the GOP package, which Cassidy said offers $ 20 billion instead of $ 170 billion from Biden. Cassidy noted previous COVID-19 aid proposals that funded schools and the notion that assisting public schools would help teachers’ unions who are skeptical if a return to personal teaching is safe.
Cassidy said one area of agreement is vaccinations, with the 10 GOP senators agreeing to match the $ 160 billion White House figure for fire distribution and administration.
Biden said on Friday that he supports the adoption of a COVID-19 aid package with Republican votes “if we can get it, but COVID aid must pass. There are no, and no bottoms. ”
Last week, Biden administration officials called on 16 senators – eight lawmakers from each party – about the White House’s COVID-19 aid package. The call was characterized as a “productive” conversation, but several Republicans found Biden’s plan too expensive.
The White House’s $ 1.9 trillion plan also includes an extension of emergency unemployment benefits from mid-March. A proposal by the Biden administration to raise the federal minimum wage to $ 15 an hour has been greeted by Republicans who claim it would cost jobs in America.