Dems push $3T coronavirus relief bill toward House OK
WASHINGTON — Democrats powered a massive $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill toward House passage Friday, an election-year measure designed to brace a U.S. economy in free fall and a health care system struggling to contain a pandemic still pummeling the country.
Passage, sure to be along mostly partisan lines, would advance a Democratic opening bid to difficult talks with the White House and Senate Republicans. The product would likely be the last major COVID- 1 9 response bill before November's presidential and congressional elections.
The enormous Democratic measure would cost more than the prior four coronavirus bills combined. It would deliver almost $1 trillion for state and local governments, another round of $1,200 direct payments to individuals and help for the unemployed, renters and homeowners, college debt holders and the struggling Postal Service.
“Not to act now is not only irresponsible in a humanitarian way, it is irresponsible because it's only going to cost more,” warned House Speaker Nancy P el o si, D-Cal if .“More in terms of lives, livelihood, cost to the budget, cost to our democracy.”
Republicans mocked the bill as a bloated Democratic wish-list that was dead on arrival in the GOP-led Senate and, for good measure, faced a White House veto threat. Party leaders say they want to assess how $3 trillion approved earlier is working and see if some states' partial business reopenings would spark an economic revival that would ease the need for more safety net programs.
Republicans are also sorting through internal divisions and awaiting stronger signals from President Donald Trump about what he will support.
“Phase Four is going to happen,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, using Washington insider-speak for the measure. “But i t's going to happen in a much better way for the American people.”
Trump and top Republicans like Senate
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky ., are insisting the next measure should protect reopening businesses from liability lawsuits. The president is also demanding a cut to payroll taxes, but GOP leaders are not yet onboard.
The day long debate painted a Capitol scene that's become common in the era of coronavirus, even as it remains disconcerting. The sparse ly populated House floor was dotted with lawmakers and aide swearing protective mask sand even gloves, though some Republicans lacked them.
Many members looked shaggier and sported beards they had not worn weeks ago. Roll cal l votes were lasting over an hour each because lawmakers were voting in small groups to limit crowding.