Box Checked: GOP Floats $500 Billion “Skinny” Phase 4 COVID-19 Relief Bill – By Ed Morrissey (Hot Air) / Sept 8 2020
This only counts as progress for record-keeping purposes, but it’s worth noting nonetheless. Facing an impasse with Democrats on Capitol Hill, Senate Republicans want to force a vote on a so-called “skinny” Phase 4 relief bill, consisting of only $500 billion more in targeted stimulus and unemployment benefits. It spends more than that, but absorbs unspent funds in previous bills to bring down the new cost of the package.
Mitch McConnell wants to get 51 votes in the Senate — not to pass the bill, but to force Democrats to obstruct it:
Senate Republicans will introduce their new coronavirus relief bill Tuesday and are eyeing a vote later this week, after weeks of stalled negotiations between the White House and Democratic leaders over an aid package.
The new, more narrow GOP proposal will provide $300 in increased weekly federal unemployment benefits through Dec. 27, additional money for the Paycheck Protection Program and liability protections for schools and businesses as they try to reopen, a top priority for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
The cost of the package is estimated at $500 billion, but the measure also proposes rescinding hundreds of billions in previously appropriated funds to hold down the costs.
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