Washington Senate Republicans are set to present their fourth phase of federal coronavirus response efforts on Monday, rolling out their legislative package as enhanced unemployment benefits are beginning to expire for millions of Americans who are out of work due to the pandemic. of coronavirus.
The legislation is the culmination of talks between the White House and Senate Republicans and represents the initial offer in negotiations with Democrats in Congress, who past a measure of $ 3 billion in May.
The Senate Republican bill, which is estimated to cost around $ 1 trillion, is expected to include another round of direct payments of $ 1,200 to Americans, billions of dollars for schools and assistance to unemployed Americans, though Republicans have refused to extend the $ 600 enhanced unemployment benefits due for approximately 30 million Americans this weekend.
Instead, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told ABC “This Week” on Sunday that Republicans and the White House are prepared to provide unemployment benefits that would replace 70% of a worker’s previous wages Although the specific figures for unemployment benefits continue to change. As the talks have continued until Monday.
“The original unemployment benefits actually paid people to stay home, and in reality many people received more money than staying home than they would return to work,” he said. “So the president has been very clear, our Republican senators have been very clear, we are not going to extend that provision.”
Larry Kudlow, President Trump’s top economic adviser, said Sunday that the measure will also include tax credits for small businesses and restaurants. It is expected to offer liability protections for companies and other institutions.
Senate Republicans are fractured by the proposal, and some of the more conservative members of the body disagree with its $ 1 trillion price tag.
In “Face the Nation” on Sunday, Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said he disagrees with the upcoming legislative package and believes the focus should be on an economic recovery plan that offers a payroll tax cut and ease taxes and small business regulations
While President Trump defended the inclusion of a payroll tax cut in the next bill, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said last week that he will not be among the provisions of the next package.
Both Meadows and Mnuchin suggested during separate interviews on Sunday that Congress may have to pass a narrower, more specific bill aimed at providing protection for unemployed Americans first and negotiating a more comprehensive measure in the coming weeks.
But Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi has refused to take an unsystematic approach. The extension of enhanced unemployment benefits is likely to be a sticking point in the negotiations, as well as federal aid to state and local governments, to which Democrats have allocated billions.
On Monday, Pelosi asked Republican congressional leaders and senior White House officials to meet with her and with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to start negotiating and “get the job done.”
“We have been standing ready to negotiate for more than two months. Unfortunately, it is not yet clear whether Republicans will put forward a proposal today,” Pelosi said in a statement, adding that “if Republicans care about working families, this will not. it will take a long time. ” “
“Time is running out,” he continued. “Congress cannot go home without an agreement.”
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