COACHELLA, Calif. — Time is running out for a COVID-19 stimulus package if congressional lawmakers want to pass something before the holidays. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the goal is December 11, which is when Congress needs to pass a spending bill in order to avoid a government shutdown.
For now, negotiations seem to be gaining momentum as House Democratic leadership backs the latest bipartisan $908 billion relief proposal as a starting point for new negotiations.
President-elect Joe Biden supported passing a short term bill now to help extend unemployment benefits, an eviction moratorium, and other resources that run out at the end of the month. Biden said he would request more relief from Congress once he’s in office. With that in mind, Speaker Nancy Pelosi let go of her $2.2 trillion figure in order to work on a new agreement.
But even with Democratic leadership supporting parts of the latest bipartisan agreement, many California Democrats say $908 billion isn’t enough.
Coachella Representative, Raul Ruiz, who is also a doctor, said he supports Pelosi’s move to use the $908 billion as a starting point but that much more should be included so he can help all constituents.
“They are struggling. They are concerned. They are anxious,” Ruiz said.
Congressional leaders can agree on one thing: they want to pass a COVID-19 stimulus package by the end of the year.
“It’s difficult to tell one group that you shouldn’t get [additional federal aid] who really need it while saying we might get it later. Look what happened after the CARES Act,” Ruiz said. “If we had that thought that we were going to get another aid package as easy as possible, we would’ve passed the HEROES Act.”
House Minority Leader and Bakersfield Republican Kevin McCarthy said the bipartisan proposal isn’t even a starting point. Instead, he believes the baseline should be McConnell’s latest $500 billion offer.
“We have a proposal out there right now that I think could work and work towards,” McCarthy said in a press conference. “The $900 [billion] proposal, I know they’ve put out there, but I think what has been working on right now with the White House, with Mnuchin, with McConnell in the Senate and the other side, is really the starting point in where we’ll probably end up.”
The $908 billion bipartisan plan includes $300 a week in unemployment benefits, as well as money to states, PPP Loans, rental assistance, vaccine development, and child care, among a few other issues. Republicans have said they want to stay fiscally conservative while Ruiz and some other Democrats said more money should be included for $600 in weekly unemployment benefits and $1,200 stimulus checks.
“We also have to fund schools,” Ruiz said. “So they have the appropriate equipment to safely bring students back to school. If we don’t have all of those components then we’re essentially going to limit ourselves in terms of our ability to address our economic recovery and this pandemic."
Ruiz said even with a Democratic-controlled House and White House, there’s no guarantee McConnell won’t block any COVID-19 bills and said this could be Congress’ last chance to pass any federal relief.