Mitt Romney, GOP senators offer details on their new scaled-back pandemic relief plan
A group of 10 Republican senators — including Utah’s Mitt Romney — released details of their scaled-down proposal early Monday ahead of their face-to-face meeting with President Joe Biden later in the day.
It includes smaller stimulus payments — $1,000 per taxpayer instead of $1,400, and it would be limited to people with lower incomes. It would also eliminate some elements of Biden’s plan that Republicans dislike, such as increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour.
The unveiling of specifics came after Biden invited the group to the White House as both sides say they want to move negotiations quickly. The group of 10 on Sunday had sent a letter to Biden requesting a meeting.
Biden has proposed a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan, while the group of 10 Republican senators unveiled proposals Monday that would cost about $618 billion — less than a third of what Biden proposes.
The senators released a letter to Biden along with their more detailed proposal on Monday.
“We share many of your priorities,” they said.
“Our plan includes: increasing funding for the production and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine; providing economic relief for Americans with the greatest need; extending enhanced federal unemployment benefits; providing nutrition assistance to help struggling families; providing additional assistance for our small businesses; getting our children safely back to school and ensuring they can stay open; and increasing resources for child care, which is critical to getting Americans back to work.”
It added, “Mr. President, we recognize your calls for unity and want to work in good faith with your administration to meet the health, economic, and societal challenges of the COVID crisis.”
Several members of the group of 10, including Romney, worked with a group of centrist Democrats to help move forward another compromise late last year when negotiations stalemated between then-President Donald Trump and congressional leaders.
Among the proposals the Republican group unveiled Monday are:
• $220 million for stimulus checks. The senators propose $1,000 per person, instead of the $1,600 proposed by Biden. For singles, payments would begin phasing out for those who make $40,000 a year with a $50,000 cap. For joint filers, the check would start phasing out at $80,000 a year with a $100,000 cap. No check would go to convicted inmates.
• $130 billion to provide $300 a week in extra unemployment benefits through June 30.
• $3 billion to extend extra Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, formerly called Food Stamps, through Sept. 30. Also, an extra $3 billion to Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
• $20 billion for a “Getting Children Back to School” initiative.
• $40 billion for another round of the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses, including $5 billion for investigations and audits to identify cheating.
• $10 billion for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program for small businesses.
• $20 billion for the National Vaccine Program in partnership with states, tribes and territories.
• $50 billion for expansion of COVID-19 testing.
• $30 billion for a Disaster Relief Fund.
• $5 billion for personal protective equipment for first responders, doctors and dentists.
• $15 billion to rebuild and restock the National Strategic Stockpile.
• $35 billion to rebuild and restock the Provider Relief Fund, with 20% set aside for rural hospitals.
• $20 billion for a child care and development block grant.
Biden has said that his much larger plan — which he calls the American Rescue Plan — is crafted to meet the economic crisis that the nation faces. But he has also called for bipartisan efforts to address needs.
In a Senate that is split 50-50 between the parties — with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote — the offer from the 10 Republican senators could help Biden move key parts of pandemic aid quickly under normal Senate rules that require 60 votes to cut off debate and hold votes.
However, Biden and Democrats had proposed to move his larger proposal under special budget reconciliation rules that would require a simple majority and would be able to pass with just votes from Democrats.
The group of 10 GOP senators negotiating with Biden include Romney and Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Rob Portman (Ohio), Bill Cassidy (Louisiana), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Todd C. Young (Indiana), Shelley Moore Capito (West Virginia), Jerry Moran (Kansas), Mike Rounds (South Dakota) and Thom Tillis (North Carolina).