Senate & House Approve COVID Stimulus Blueprint

After a long night in the U.S. Senate, which ended with Vice President Kamala Harris using her tie-breaking power for the first time, lawmakers in the House have quickly followed up approving the blueprint for President Biden’s proposed coronavirus stimulus bill. From the New York Times:

The House gave final approval on Friday to a budget blueprint that included President Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus plan, advancing it over unanimous Republican opposition as Democrats pressed forward with plans to begin drafting the aid package next week and speed it through the House by the end of the month.

Senate leaders could begin working on their own bill in hopes of delivering a final package to Mr. Biden’s desk before supplemental unemployment benefits are set to expire in mid-March.

Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, cited poll numbers showing bipartisan support among American voters for the plan, brushing aside criticism the White House was sacrificing bipartisan solidarity for partisan celerity.

“He didn’t run on a promise to unite the Democratic and Republican Party into one party in Washington,” she said in her Friday briefing at the White House.

While the budget reconciliation approach will allow Democrats to pass the legislation without Republican votes, Biden has signaled he is open to some adjustments to the legislation including targeting direct payments of $1,400 to lower income and middle income Americans. The Senate also agreed to a proposal prohibiting an increase in the minimum wage during the pandemic. Biden’s plan hoped to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025.

After an all-night session, Vice President Kamala Harris breaks a tie at 5:30 a.m., approving the Senate budget resolution by a 51-50 vote and paving the way for Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package to pass without Republican votes next month.pic.twitter.com/9dGoaYZD9a

— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) February 5, 2021