The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
■ Jobless-benefits deal breaks Senate impasse on relief bill,
Compromise likely clears way for approval of $1.9 trillion package.
WASHINGTON — Senate leaders and moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin struck a deal late Friday over emergency jobless benefits, breaking a nine-hour logjam that had stalled the party’s showpiece $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill.
What’s happening
The compromise, announced by the West Virginia lawmaker and a Democratic aide, seemed to clear the way for the Senate to begin a climactic, marathon series of votes expected to lead to approval of the sweeping legislation.
The overall bill, President Joe Biden’s top legislative priority, is aimed at battling the killer pandemic and nursing the staggered economy back to health. It would provide direct payments of up to $1,400 to most Americans and money for COVID-19 vaccines and testing, aid to state and local governments, help for schools and the airline industry and subsidies for health insurance.
What it means
With 10 million fewer jobs since the pandemic struck a year ago, aiding unemployed Americans is a top Democratic priority. But it’s also an issue that drove a divide between progressives seeking to help jobless constituents cope with the bleak economy and Manchin and other moderates who have wanted to trim some of the bill’s costs
How it happened
The Senate voted 51-50 Thursday to begin debating the legislation, prevailing only with Vice President Kamala Harris tie-breaking vote. That nail-biter and a host of eleventh-hour deals Democratic leaders were cutting with rankand-file lawmakers reflected the delicate challenge of navigating the precariously divided chamber.
The House version of the massive relief package provides $400 weekly emergency unemployment benefits — on top of regular state payments — through August.
In a compromise with moderates revealed earlier Friday, Senate Democrats said that would be reduced to $300 weekly but extended until early October. The plan, sponsored by Sen. Tom Carper, D-del., would also reduce taxes on unemployment benefits.
Later, lawmakers said Manchin preferred an alternative by Sen. Rob Portman, R-ohio, that would provide $300 weekly benefits until mid-july.
Before the unemployment benefits drama began, senators voted 58-42 to kill a top progressive priority, a gradual increase in the current $7.25 hourly minimum wage to $15 over five years.
Eight Democrats voted against the proposal, suggesting that Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT., and other progressives vowing to continue the effort in coming months will face a difficult fight.
Republicans say the overall bill is a liberal spend-fest that ignores that growing numbers of vaccinations and signs of a stirring economy suggest that the twin crises are easing.
“Our country is already set for a roaring recovery,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch Mcconnell, R-KY., in part citing an unexpectedly strong report on job creation. “Democrats inherited a tide that was already turning.”
Democrats reject that, citing the 10 million jobs the economy has lost during the pandemic and numerous people still struggling to buy food and pay rent.
“If you just look at a big number you say, ‘Oh, everything’s getting a little better,’” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “It’s not for the lower half of America. It’s not.”