Biden's Go-Big Stimulus Plans Set Up Fresh Fight in Senate

[left-of-center2012]

President-elect Joe Biden’s plan to pass a multitrillion-dollar economic stimulus package early in his administration faces challenges in a closely divided U.S. Senate, with a potential impeachment trial for Donald Trump that could add to delays.

Biden is set to release his proposals -- the price tag for which has yet to be unveiled -- on Thursday. The package will feature a range of support for state and local authorities long blocked by Republicans, a bump in direct payments to $2,000 and expanded unemployment benefits, along with funding for vaccine distribution, school re-opening, tax credits, rental relief and aid to small businesses.

Parts of last month’s $900 billion aid bill start running out in mid-March, and may not prove enough to forestall an economic contraction this quarter as the coronavirus continues to surge and wreak record deaths. Many elements of Biden’s plan are expected to be drawn from House Democrats’ $3.4 trillion Heroes Act, which passed in May and was blocked by the GOP-controlled Senate.

Senator Chuck Schumer is set to be majority leader with the barest possible control of the chamber -- a 50-50 split. Deficit-hawk Democrats from conservative states, such as West Virginia’s Joe Manchin and Montana’s Jon Tester, will have equal influence with leftist progressive Bernie Sanders. Republicans are unlikely to warm to the argument. Their congressional leaders have signaled they will likely resist another major package after the last two record-high $2 trillion and $900 billion relief bills.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/biden-big-stimulus-plans-set-070001707.html

[redstatebluegirl]

1. I hope people realize how hard it is going to be to govern with this tight a senate.

The House is also a lot tighter than it was. We need to focus right now on 2022. We also need to be brutal in our ads this time, we have a lot of footage to use for sure.

[NoMoreRepugs]

2. Let the fight for America begin. Patriots vs Seditionists.

[gohuskies]

3. A Biden New Deal is needed

To undo the damage Trump and the GOP have laid upon the nation is the only way to really recover from this damage. Go Big, Joe, your legacy can be on a scale with FDR to restore sanity and balance to governance and all Americans, including the deploreables.

[uponit7771]

4. +1, this is how Biden should promote a new bill as

[uponit7771]

5. Fuck what the republicans want they're not relevant to votes in the senate any longer. We need

... to get rid of the filibuster yesterday and go straight majority, they'll do that to us.

[kirkuchiyo]

6. I believe Manchin has already said he would not support this. nt

[a kennedy]

9. I fear he could be worse then some repubs....

[uponit7771]

10. I'd need to see this myself, the M$M like Stahl did the other night is trying their best to make ...

... news about the thin majority we have.

[Celerity]

11. we are all going to be hearing those words hundreds of times over the next 2 years

[stillcool]

8. 👍

[BlueIdaho]

7. How easy is it to get rid of the filibuster?

Can it be done as part of the rules package for the new Senate?