Biden, Calling Stimulus Bill a ‘Down Payment,’ Urges More Relief

“Joe Biden calling this a primary step, a down fee — we knew that we might revisit it, and we might have a greater likelihood with a Democratic president who cared about science,” Ms. Pelosi mentioned in an interview, including that “we’ll have presidential management.”

However the discussions about one other reduction package deal will pose an preliminary take a look at of Mr. Biden’s strategy to working with Congress, and his optimism about the prospects of bipartisan legislating in an intensely polarized period. With slightly below a month till the inauguration, he nonetheless doesn’t know what the stability of energy will likely be in Congress when he assumes workplace, and Home Democrats face a significantly smaller majority in 2021.

Even when Democrats win each runoff elections for Georgia’s Senate seats on Jan. 5 and acquire management of the chamber, present Senate guidelines would require some Republican help to make sure that laws clears the chamber. If Republicans maintain on to at the least a type of seats, Mr. Biden will likely be left contending with a Republican Senate majority.

In pursuing one other package deal, he will even face the prospect of wrangling an elusive compromise on two of the thorniest coverage provisions: a direct stream of funding for state and native governments, which he has repeatedly voiced help for, and a Republican demand for a sweeping liability shield from Covid-related lawsuits for companies, colleges and different establishments. With either side so dug in on the 2 points over about eight months of debate, congressional leaders finally agreed to take away each provisions from the ultimate $900 billion settlement.

Republicans on Capitol Hill have begun to tacitly acknowledge Mr. Biden’s public want for one more package deal. However after spending greater than $three trillion this yr to assist the economic system and struggling households, companies and establishments, a number of Republicans are resistant to a different sweeping package deal in the beginning of 2021.

“If we tackle the crucial wants proper now, and issues enhance subsequent yr because the vaccine will get on the market and the economic system begins to choose up once more, you recognize, then possibly there’s much less of a necessity,” Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Senate Republican, instructed reporters final week earlier than the deal was reached.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the bulk chief, has declined to decide to pursuing one other spherical of reduction, although he didn’t rule out one other spherical of negotiations.

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