Bipartisan group of senators prepares $908 billion stimulus plan, aiming to break partisan logjam

[demmiblue]

Source: WaPo

A bipartisan group of senators is expected to unveil an approximately $908 billion stimulus proposal on Tuesday, aiming to break a months-long partisan impasse over providing emergency federal relief to the U.S. economy, according to four people aware of internal negotiations.

Congress has faced increasing pressure to approve additional economic relief since talks between the White House and House Democrats collapsed, first over the summer and then again in the fall ahead of the Nov. 3 presidential election.

Failure to reach an agreement could have serious consequences for the economy and millions of Americans. A number of critical relief programs are set to expire at the end of the year; 12 million Americans are on pace to lose their jobless benefits, and protections for renters and student borrowers are also set to expire.

With negotiations between congressional leaders at an impasse, rank-and-file senators in both parties have for several weeks quietly discussed putting together a bipartisan proposal that could break the logjam. Several centrist and dealmaker types in the Senate — including Sens. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) — are expected to push their new bipartisan agreement as a template for legislation that could pass Congress as the economy faces increasing strain from a winter surge in coronavirus cases.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/12/01/stimulus-congress-coronavirus/

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Link to tweet

[lark]

1. Why do Dems always cave for the rich and don't stand up for working class.

A temporary liability shield could be pure awful, depending on the details. Plus there is no cancellation of evictions, so all this does is help the rich co., states and does next to zero for the working class or small restaurants, this is not a good thing.

[Demsrule86]

23. We can hold out for the 'best' deal ever...but in the meantime...people are on the verge

of homelessness and starvation. . Food banks are running low. Those folks you see lined up, not all of them get food you know. Sometimes they run out of food. Unemployment ends for millions on December 26th but many states are out of money like Ohio. Those unemployed in Ohio will get little now if any. Hubs luckily got a job. But we need to pass the best stimulus bill we can and accept the fact that it may not be all we want if we don't get the two house seats. And if we wait until the seats are decided, we could very well get less if the GOP wins. I Know I would have got down on my knees and thanked God for $300.00 extra a week as hubs and I stared into the abyss.

He had been unemployed since early March and had been out with the General Motors strike for another couple of months before that. And auto parts folks do not get back pay. We were desperate for what was possible...any help really. Our mission must be to send what help we can to a desperate population: some of whom may die if we fail to do so. And the reason we always have to give which I don't deny (hate it in fact) is that the GOP couldn't care a less if Americans starve, freeze to death or die on the streets. That is just a fact so they have no skin in the game.

[stopbush]

27. This proposal does almost nothing to help Americans.

And it lets Rs off the hook for doing nothing to help people over the past 8 months.

And if we don’t take the Senate, this proposal will be the end to any additional covid relief. Americans impacted by tRump’s ineptitude will be characterized as lazy freeloaders.

In the meanwhile, Congresspeople will continue to draw their salaries of $174,000 per year for doing basically nothing.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

32. Exactally!

This isn't better than nothing, it IS nothing. 300 bucks in unemployment, no direct payments, and corporate protections is a slap in the face.

[KatyMan]

29. which underscores the evil of the Republican party

They wait until something has to be done and say "well, if you don't do me a favor, I guess everyone dies" and then get everything they want and throw scraps to the needy. Fuck them and their voters.

[Demsrule86]

35. I don't disagree. But at some point a deal needs to be made...some money is better than no money.

Let's hope we get the Senate. No matter what, we need to do a better job of pinning the blame on McConnell...I think the loss of house seats was related to a lack of stimulus... we got blamed ...which I can't figure out how or why.

[Proud liberal 80]

2. This is the type of watered down crap we get

When we don’t have a majority and have to count on the likes of people like Collins to at least get something

[3825-87867]

3. The Turtle's Fault!

Let's see:

Trump wants America to die.
Mitch and the Republicans are helping.

January 21, 2021
Trump goes to Russia,
Mitch goes to China,
Corporations off-shore,
Republicans, their families and friends can go to hell!

[jimfields33]

4. I thought the 1200 dollar check would have at least made it

Dang it.

[underpants]

6. I think it should. They need to pump money into the system and with new closures

such as restaurants in California the $1200 checks are needed.

[rickyhall]

22. Repugs are too stupid to get that. They think it's their money.

They just haven't stolen it yet... or maybe they have. We won't know how much trump stole for years.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

25. The what Mnuchin believes.

Scary that idiot is in charge of the Treasury.

[radical noodle]

5. It's better than nothing

which is what Mitch really wants.

[rainin]

7. How is this bi-partisan? Is Manchin the token democrat?

Who are we kidding here?

[pazzyanne]

19. Maggie Hassan (D), Mark Warner (D), Angus King (I), and, I believe Chris Coons...

... are also members of the bipartisan stimulus group.

[rainin]

24. Thanks! That makes me feel better.

I hope they don't agree to corporate immunity. Corporations are already too insulated from consequences.

[greenjar_01]

30. Coons is doing this with Biden and Harris's blessing, dollars to doughnuts

[HUAJIAO]

8. not, "if congress doesn't act,' ----if republicans don't act.

[Cicada]

9. If passed, repubs will then have zero incentive to prevent collapse of state govts

This bill will guarantee massive layoffs of state and local govt employees, massive reductions in services people need.

[Hotler]

10. Romney, Collins and Manchin, thin definition of bipartisan. nt

[pazzyanne]

20. See post #19 above. nt

[droidamus2]

11. Figures...

Sure it figures that Joe Manchin would be involved in trying to help the Republicans save face by selling our his Democratic constituents. That is one of the big problems with the Democratic party whenever they get any kind of power these rightwing Dinos see it as their time to step up and make power plays that screw the party.

[bluestarone]

12. Joe's team can and will do better!

I'm for waiting. This package sucks, plus DO NOT let Moscow Mitch off the hook! He fucked us for many months. He should get 0 credit for anything!!

[Fiendish Thingy]

13. Bullshit- not a compromise but a Trojan horse to get the liability shield passed. Dems should reject

[gab13by13]

14. This is a Trojan Horse,

a watered down bill that will give Republicans cover. The MSM will have a field day blaming Democrats for all of the bankruptcies and home losses, and job losses. The MSM isn't going to dig into the details of what's in the bill, it will just blame Democrats.

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

15. You know, sort of like a band-aid on a still bleeding amputated leg.

That always works.

[BlueIdaho]

16. This is going nowhere in the House

Try adding 1.5 trillion dollars to make serious headway in America’s needs.

[yaesu]

17. no news, just fascist propaganda, next...nt

[DallasNE]

18. This Looks Like A Partisan GOP Plan

With a liability shield and no stimulus checks. A true compromise would likely have a limited liability shield and a $600 stimulus check, for instance. As is, the bill should be DOA.

[pazzyanne]

21. See post #19 above. nt

[stopbush]

26. Agreed.

[stopbush]

28. Ten Senators earning $1,740,000 a year between them

propose giving the unemployed an extra $300 a week for four months, or $4800.

Is that money retroactive back to July 26, when the $600 included in the CARES act expired? I ask because Pelosi’s already passed HEROES Act includes $600 a week retroactive to August, and also runs into March. That would equal roughly $19,000 in UI benefits for everyone who has been out of work since at least August. Quite a difference for those who are behind on their rent and facing eviction. And where does one mail unemployment checks to homeless-thru-eviction people?

Pelosi’s plan also includes an additional $1200 direct relief check to every American.

Yep. They’re offering peanuts.

At the end of the day, three words: it’s only money.

[progressoid]

36. And people like me who are self-employed will get screwed again.

[davsand]

31. Nice to know none of these guys care if you can't feed your kids.

By ALL means, put the priority on keeping business afloat. Whatever you do, don't sweat hungry families and people dealing with utility shut offs. Sitting in the dark hungry and cold is not the American dream--in fact it's inhumane. I'd really like to know how any of them can say they are public servants and not get struck by lightening.

What really pisses me off is the reality is that this kind of bullshit is probably gonna persist no matter how hard Biden and his team work to fix the nation. NO matter how well intentioned Biden is, these f***nuts will still be in Congress.

I can't express the outrage I feel right now.





Laura

[pecosbob]

33. Just say no to socialism for the wealthy

Last edited Tue Dec 1, 2020, 06:57 PM - Edit history (1)

Anyone know if this bill includes terminating unilateral lending authority for Biden's Fed/Treasury as the bill circulated among the GOP by McConnell does?

[EndlessWire]

34. Break the logjam??

This started at $300 trillion. Repubs refused. Dems dropped it to 2.2 trillion. Repubs refused. McConnell offered some lesser amount (can't remember how much.) Now there's a bipartisan effort offering even less??

Citizens need cold hard cash to feed their children. The Repubs can take this offer and shove it where the sun don't shine. Straight up McConnell's ass.

Is there anyone crueler than McConnell? Miller, maybe...

Thanks a lot, Kentucky. C'mon, Georgia, do the right thing!