Lawmakers look to head-off gridlock over Biden's COVID stimulus plan
Moderate lawmakers, many of whom played a pivotal role in brokering a bipartisan compromise during the last round of coronavirus relief negotiations, are expected to meet Sunday as President Joe Biden's administration attempts to pass an ambitious legislative agenda. Biden has proposed a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan and several other significant proposals on immigration and infrastructure spending that will require congressional approval. But in a Senate split 50-50 between both parties, Democrats will need Republican votes in order to pass any major proposals — at least ten Republican votes are needed to break a filibuster and advance any legislation, assuming all Democrats vote for the legislation. The group invited to a call with National Economic Council Director Brian Deese includes Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., Angus King, I-Maine, Susan Collins, R-Maine, Mitt Romney, R-Utah, and Reps. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., and Tom Reed, R-N.Y..