Senate Democrats Still Debating Key Elements of Covid Rescue Plan

  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
Yuval Rosenberg
·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Democrats remain divided over some elements of the $1.9 trillion Covid relief plan, with centrists including Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire looking to cut back enhanced unemployment benefits in the proposal.

Politico reports:

“Some moderate Democrats are calling for more narrow targeting of the aid bill's unemployment benefits and stimulus checks, including cutting the weekly federal benefits the bill would add from $400 to $300 — while extending that money over a longer period of time. That debate is taking place roughly 24 hours before party leaders want the bill on the floor.”

Manchin told reporters he’s concerned that the increased benefits may give workers incentive to stay away from their jobs. “We want people to get back to work,” he said, according to Bloomberg News. We’re going to have a hard time getting people ready to go back in and keep the economy going. It would be awful if we open the doors and we have no one working.”

Other Democrats are reportedly pushing back on the proposed changes, and President Biden on Tuesday urged Democrats to stick together and pass the relief package, telling senators that they may have to accept some provisions they don’t like — though he reportedly is leaving it to the lawmakers to iron out their differences over policy details.

“One solution to the argument over unemployment benefits could be to extend the length of time for benefits using money saved by reducing the weekly benefit supplement,” Bloomberg’s Erik Wasson, Steven T. Dennis and Laura Litvan report.

Other issues reportedly being discussed include income thresholds for those receiving $1,400 direct payments, the proper amount of aid for state and local governments and the idea of repurposing some of the proposed state aid toward broadband investments.

“My guess is it’s probably going to change, but pretty modestly. That’d be my guess,” Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) said Monday evening, according to Politico. And Sen. Angus King (I-ME) said Monday that the overall size of the package isn’t being disputed much: “The question is whether it can be targeted in such a way as to better serve the people who need the most and perhaps free up funds for other priorities.”

Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter.

Recommended Stories

  • Democrats Debate Biden’s Relief Bill as Deadline Looms

    Mar.02 -- Senate Democrats will take up President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion Covid relief package this week as two factions within the party attempt to work out final details. Bloomberg Government’s Jack Fitzpatrick has the details on “Bloomberg Surveillance."

  • Florida gets more good vaccine news after a year of COVID

    We’ve officially passed the one-year mark since the coronavirus pandemic reached Florida.The state of play: This time around there's good news. The anniversary brought exciting vaccine announcements for the state.Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free1. Johnson & Johnson vaccine: Gov. Ron DeSantis expects a shipment of the one-dose shot this week after it was approved over the weekend, he announced at a press conference Monday. The state is looking at getting 175,000 doses this week, DeSantis said.The governor also brushed aside concerns that the J&J shot is slightly less effective than the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines: "If you have the opportunity to take the J&J, take the J&J."2. Expanded eligibility: All sworn-in law enforcement officers, firefighters and K-12 school personnel over 50 can now get a shot under a new executive order.They could all likely be vaccinated with the J&J shipment, DeSantis said.It comes after Friday’s executive order allowing physicians, advanced practice registered nurses and pharmacists to vaccinate people under 65 deemed "extremely vulnerable" by their doctors. 3. Federal vaccine sites: Four are set to open in different parts of the state this week if the J&J vaccine arrives, per DeSantis. Tampa's will be located at the Tampa Greyhound Track.Don't forget: Raymond James Stadium's vaccine site opened Monday. It plans to accommodate up to 3,200 people a day.Lingering questions: How will the "extremely vulnerable" categorization work, the Tampa Bay Times asks? Will pharmacies require people to have doctor's notes to get their shots? Will the same apply to federal sites?When will the new group announced yesterday be eligible for shots? Representatives from DeSantis' office, the state department of emergency management and the health department did not immediately respond for comment. This story first appeared in the Axios Tampa Bay newsletter, designed to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news unfolding in their own backyard.Sign up here.Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free.

  • Pregnant Jackie Kennedy Was Worried She Couldn't Help JFK Get Elected President

    In July 1960, John F. Kennedy was announced as the Democratic presidential candidate at the Democratic National Convention, with VP candidate Lyndon B. Johnson and his wife Lady Bird Johnson by his side. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, however, was notably not by his side. Having learned earlier in his campaign that she was pregnant, Jackie was […]

  • This Eureka vacuum packs a powerful punch—and it's at its lowest price ever

    This Eureka vacuum sucked up just as much dirt as our favorite Roomba in testing—and it's more than $100 off right now.

  • Australia makes another order for Boeing’s Loyal Wingman drones after a successful first flight

    The design will also be the basis of one of the U.S. Air Force's Skyborg entrants.

  • Dr. Pimple Popper used a spoon to scoop out a 'crème brûlée' cyst on a man's shoulder

    For the first time ever, the celebrity dermatologist let a patient take a smoke break halfway through the procedure to calm down.

  • Poisoning nearly killed Alexei Navalny. Now, Biden is sanctioning Putin allies in Russia

    The Biden administration is sanctioning seven Russians allied with Vladimir Putin after the attempted murder of Alexei Nalvany.

  • Palestinian COVID-19 vaccine rollout under fire over doses for VIPs

    The Palestinian Authority on Tuesday confirmed that it diverted some COVID-19 vaccination doses meant for medical workers to VIPs as critics charged but said this involved a small fraction of inoculations. A health ministry statement said 10% of the 12,000 doses it received were given to the Palestinian national football team, government ministers, presidential guards and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization's topmost Executive Committee. But it said the other 90% went to health workers treating COVID-19 cases in intensive care units and emergency departments, and health ministry workers.

  • Armenian leader scores political point in spat with military

    Armenia's prime minister scored a political point Tuesday in his spat with the top military brass, advancing his motion to fire the country's top military officer. A political crisis sparked by Armenia's defeat in the conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region escalated last week when the military's General Staff demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan following his move to dismiss a top general. Pashinyan responded by firing the chief of the General Staff, Col. Gen. Onik Gasparyan.

  • Biden response to report on Khashoggi killing angers both Saudi Arabia and its critics

    The Biden administration's first test over what it promised would be a tough approach to Saudi Arabia has left both Riyadh and its critics unhappy.

  • ‘It’s really sad, who says that?’: Lindsey Graham mocked for thanking Trump for ‘allowing me to be in his world’

    ‘Morning Joe’ hosts laugh at senator’s continued subservience to former president

  • U.S. senators refine Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 bill, push pet projects

    Negotiations over President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill go into overdrive this week as the U.S. Senate begins debate over the sweeping legislation and lawmakers jockey to include pet projects, while tossing others overboard. Senator Angus King, an independent aligned with Biden's Democrats, has been pushing for billions of dollars to expand high-speed broadband service in rural areas - an idea that could attract Republican support. But Democrats should not expect much, if any, Republican backing for the entire bill.

  • What happened to the NRA, and what will become of it now?

    One of the US’s most powerful political groups is on its knees just as its most bitter enemies take control of Washington

  • 6 Democratic state lawmakers call for the impeachment of NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo

    The six lawmakers, all of whom identify as socialists, said Cuomo's "predatory behavior" and "gross misconduct" demand impeachment proceedings.

  • Disneyland's Snow White ride has been scaring kids for decades, but its new makeover should change that

    Disneyland updated its Snow White's Scary Adventures ride, which will be known as Snow White's Enchanted Wish once the theme park reopens.

  • France, allies to push on with protest at IAEA over Iran's activities: foreign minister

    France and its Western allies plan to lodge a protest with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog to criticise Iran's decision to curb cooperation with the agency, the French foreign minister said on Tuesday. Iran said last month it was scaling back cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, ending extra inspection and monitoring measures introduced by the 2015 nuclear deal, including the power given to the IAEA to carry out snap inspections at facilities not declared by Iran. "The nuclear tensions will lead us in the coming days to put forward a protest in the framework of the IAEA Board of Governors to regret this decision," Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told a parliamentary hearing.

  • 14 things you probably didn't know about 'The Sound of Music'

    The classic movie musical starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer premiered 56 years ago, but even superfans might not know all these secrets.

  • Rep. Adam Kinzinger tore into Sen. Josh Hawley for his 'smug' CPAC speech, saying 5 people died because of 'what you did'

    "Like, there are five people dead, two that took their own life on top of that, as a result of what you did," Kinzinger said of Hawley.

  • Marisa Tomei mines her New York roots for patient-but-strong 'Staten Island' mom

    To play widowed Margie in 'The King of Staten Island,' Marisa Tomei tapped into her mom's more obliging generation.

  • Biden announces the US will have enough vaccines for 'every adult in America' by the end of May

    Biden announced that two major pharmaceutical companies will work together to "expand the production" of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.