COLUMBUS, Ohio — Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) said Sunday the COVID-19 relief bill, which the House passed without a Republican vote, is “very bipartisan,” while Sen. Rob Portman (R) blasted the proposals as wasteful and called on Democrats to negotiate with Republicans. 

Appearing on “Meet the Press,” Brown said Republican representatives are neglecting their Republican constituents desperately in need of economic relief. 

“President Biden's Relief Act is all about going big. We go big on unemployment benefits, on opening schools, and putting shots in people's arms,” Brown said. 

Passing the bill is the quickest way to get money to the American people, and grow jobs and the economy, he said. "All those things are very bipartisan.”

On ABC’s “This Week,” Portman was asked about a New York Times report that 40% of Republicans support the relief package.

Portman said the solution is a bill that Republicans and Democrats can get behind.

“Let's make it bipartisan. I mean, COVID relief has never been a partisan issue,” he said. “I was one of the 10 Republicans who went to see the president a few weeks ago and said, ‘Let's negotiate.’”

He called for a relief bill with “bipartisan measures so that we don't poison the well” and he said “it would be very easy to get Republican support for a COVID relief package.” 

Among his issues with the current legislation, Portman alleged more than half of the funds will not be spent this calendar year. He said Democrats have made the bill about non-COVID matters, criticizing funding for an underground transit system in Silicon Valley, a bridge in New York, and hundreds of millions for the arts. 

“So how could it be about COVID relief? No one expects that a year from now we’ll be in the COVID crisis that we’re in now,” he said. 

Portman raised process concerns with the bill, noting the Senate parliamentarian last week said a minimum wage increase could not be approved with 51 votes.

Brown said Sunday he remains confident Democrats will be able to raise the minimum wage — a priority for the senator. He said he is committed to fighting for economic justice and issues like stimulus checks, which he says have “overwhelming support” from Republicans.

“That's how I won and get elected in a state like Ohio, which people say is trending more conservative,” he said.

Pete Grieve and Taylor Popielarz contributed reporting.