The White House and Senate Republicans may have finally came to an agreement after many internal disruptions within the party have prevented negotiations regarding a Coronavirus Relief Package to actualize.
What We Know:
- Back in May, House Democrats passed a $3 trillion measure in order to aid both state and local governments with the expansiveness of the novel virus. GOP conversations surrounding another aid package have only began to come to fruition very recently and many Senate Republicans are still not fully in agreement.
- According to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), “I think we’ll get something done before it’s all said and done, but like everything else in this process forever, it’s gonna be loud, messy, [and] appear to be almost doomed on many occasions…”
- The deliberation of these negotiations are amid bleak developments regarding the rise of both cases and deaths in the United States. The U.S. continues to lead internationally with COVID-19 cases totaling 3,952,273 and deaths reaching 142,755.
- Along with these worrisome developments, lately, Senate Republicans have been in the public eye due to recent intraparty clashing. Amongst many internal conflicts, President Trump’s demand for a payroll tax cut to be included in the Coronavirus Relief Package that he believes “would be great for workers” has received hardly any support from GOP senators.
- Though provisions of the Coronavirus Relief Package seem to be muddled behind politics, the original singular $1 trillion bill will actually be released as a series of bills. The series will be compiled of one appropriations bill and several authorizations bills, and a final bill that will discuss the dissemination of stimulus checks.
- The Trump administration and Senate Republicans have come to the tentative consensus that $16 billion will be allocated for testing; however, testing is relative because the administration actively denounces a national testing program. K-12 education will receive $70 billion of the relief package and universities will receive $30 billion in aid. The remaining $5 billion in the package will be up to the discretion of state governors.
The GOP expects to propose a completed legislative package to the House Democrats by Monday; though, increasing tension within the party suggests only more hesitation. However, the rise in Coronavirus cases and deaths coupled with fear of a second phase may light a fire under Capitol Hill.
