Conservatives say Democrats are handing the keys of Mr. Biden’s early legislative agenda to the far left.
“Clearly he has planted a flag as far left as possible with the budget resolution,” said Garrett Bess, vice president of government relations and communications at Heritage Action for America, a conservative advocacy organization.
Mr. Sanders last week helped shepherd the Democrats’ 2021 budget resolution through the Senate in an all-night session. It cleared the way for what is known as budget reconciliation, which will allow Democrats to pass Mr. Biden’s massive relief bill without any Republican votes.
The Biden relief proposal includes direct payments of up to $1,400 for millions of Americans, a $400 boost in weekly unemployment benefits, $15 billion to help small businesses, $170 billion for K-12 schools and colleges, $350 billion for city and state governments, and $20 billion for a national vaccination program.
Key figures on the Democratic Party's left wing appear to be losing patience with presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden and his team after an uneasy alliance during the campaign.