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Total U.S. coronavirus deaths reported this morning: 441,324.
Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States have surpassed 26 million.
President Biden is staring down a major decision on how to proceed with stimulus talks after a group of centrist Republican senators proposed a pared-down relief bill and put pressure on Biden to meet with them to further his message about unity.
President Biden on Sunday invited a group of Republican senators to meet with him at the White House early this week after they proposed a more targeted economic relief package, but the administration gave no indication it is ready to budge from i
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Senate Republicans Propose $618 Billion in Pandemic Relief as Counter to Biden’s $1.9 Trillion Plan
Ten Senate Republicans on Feb. 1 unveiled their $618 billion counterproposal to President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion pandemic relief plan, which some members of the GOP have panned as an unworkable liberal wishlist.
Biden has proposed $160 billion for vaccines and testing, $170 billion for schools and universities, and funds to give certain Americans a $1,400-per-person stimulus check, among other provisions.
Some Republicans have questioned the overall price tag, while others urged more targeted measures, particularly over the direct payments to individuals.
Congress has approved some $4 trillion in emergency pandemic relief since the start of the pandemic last year, the largest rescue package in American history.
Feb. 1, 2021 10:14 am
Ten Senate Republicans are slated to meet with Joe Biden today to discuss their new COVID package, which comes in around 1.4 trillion dollars cheaper:
POLITICO – Senate Republicans Monday morning unveiled their $618 billion counterproposal to President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief plan, ahead of a meeting between 10 GOP senators and Biden about whether they can work together.
The proposal would provide $160 billion for testing, vaccines and personal protective equipment, extend the $300 weekly unemployment insurance payments until July and provide $1,000 checks to lower-income Americans, according to a draft framework.
Those checks would begin phasing out much earlier than Biden’s plan and would be capped at $100,000 for joint filers. Dependents and children would receive an additional $500 each. People in both parties have complained that the $1,400 checks from Biden should not go to higher-income families.