thefiscaltimes--2020-12-07--Biden Unveils Health Team, With Becerra as HHS Secretary

President-elect Joe Biden on Monday announced nominations for top members of his health care team , the officials who will be responsible for leading the fight against the coronavirus pandemic , distributing vaccines and implementing the new administration ’ s plans to strengthen the Affordable Care Act .
Xavier Becerra as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services .
Becerra , 62 , served 12 terms in Congress and has been California ’ s attorney general since 2017 .
In that role , has been a leading defender of the Affordable Care Act , bringing legal challenges to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law , including a case now before the Supreme Court .
If confirmed by the Senate , Becerra would be the first Latino to lead the department .
He had been rumored to be a candidate to be Biden ’ s attorney general .
There are already questions about Becerra ’ s qualifications for the job , given that he has little health policy experience and hasn ’ t run a bureaucracy as large as HHS , which has more than 80,000 employees .
Becerra “ has a thinner management resume than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thompson , Mike Leavitt and Kathleen Sebelius , ” Politico notes .
“ Meanwhile , Sylvia Mathews Burwell and Alex Azar had spent considerable time as high-level administration officials and in senior roles at large organizations before they were tapped to run HHS.
” But Biden faced pressure to include more Latinos in his Cabinet , and the president-elect reportedly placed significant importance on Becerra ’ s track record of fighting to support Obamacare and expand access to health care .
Some health policy experts lauded the choice .
“ You need a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who led the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under Obama , told The Washington Post .
“ He ’ s just a great fit .
Right temperament.
” Larry Levitt , executive vice president of health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation , said that Becerra “ has been perhaps the biggest thorn in President Trump 's side on the ACA , reproductive health , and immigrant rights .
If confirmed , he will have an opportunity to overturn much of what Trump has done.
” He added : “ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but Xavier Becerra has also aggressively gone after anti-competitive practices in the hospital industry that keep prices high.
” Becerra will face questions from Republicans about qualifications and his past support for Medicare for All .
“ I will meet with Xavier Becerra to ask how his political donations from insurance companies and his support for abortions and Medicare for All makes him qualified to serve as the Secretary of Health and Human Services , ” Indiana Senator Mike Braun ( R-IN ) , who sits on the Senate health committee , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Murthy as surgeon general .
Murthy held the same job under President Barack Obama .
Rochelle Walensky , an infectious disease expert at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School , as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Walensky has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration ’ s pandemic response .
“ In the Biden administration , the CDC will take on a much larger and public role , ” Politico reports , “ with plans to revive regular media briefings and give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been pushed aside by President Donald Trump .
Biden and his advisers have emphasized that they want to prioritize scientists over politics in responding to the pandemic.
” Anthony Fauci will stay on in his role as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases but also serve as Biden ’ s chief medical adviser on the coronavirus .
Jeff Zients to be coordinator of the Covid-19 response and counselor to the president .
Zients is a former management consultant and business executive who is serving as Biden transition co-chair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Office of Management and Budget and National Economic Council director under Obama but is best known for helping to fix the “ Cash for Clunkers ” program and the HealthCare.gov website after its problem-plagued rollout .
Marcella Nunez-Smith , an associate professor at the Yale School of Medicine , as Covid-19 Equity Task Force chair , a new job in which the transition team says she will advise Biden on efforts to reduce “ disparities in response , care , and treatment , including racial and ethnic disparities.
” “ This trusted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the highest level of integrity , scientific rigor , and crisis-management experience to one of the toughest challenges America has ever faced — getting the pandemic under control so that the American people can get back to work , back to their lives , and back to their loved ones , ” Biden said in a statement .
Biden has not yet named his picks to head the Food and Drug Administration or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services .

President-elect Joe Biden on Monday announced nominations for top members of his health care team, the officials who will be responsible for leading the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, distributing vaccines and implementing the new administration’s plans to strengthen the Affordable Care Act.
Biden’s picks include:
Xavier Becerra as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Becerra, 62, served 12 terms in Congress and has been California’s attorney general since 2017. In that role, has been a leading defender of the Affordable Care Act, bringing legal challenges to Trump administration efforts to weaken and invalidate the law, including a case now before the Supreme Court. If confirmed by the Senate, Becerra would be the first Latino to lead the department. He had been rumored to be a candidate to be Biden’s attorney general.
There are already questions about Becerra’s qualifications for the job, given that he has little health policy experience and hasn’t run a bureaucracy as large as HHS, which has more than 80,000 employees. Becerra “has a thinner management resume than previous HHS secretaries like former governors Tommy Thompson, Mike Leavitt and Kathleen Sebelius,” Politico notes. “Meanwhile, Sylvia Mathews Burwell and Alex Azar had spent considerable time as high-level administration officials and in senior roles at large organizations before they were tapped to run HHS.”
But Biden faced pressure to include more Latinos in his Cabinet, and the president-elect reportedly placed significant importance on Becerra’s track record of fighting to support Obamacare and expand access to health care. Some health policy experts lauded the choice. “You need a leader, manager,” Andy Slavitt, who led the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under Obama, told The Washington Post. “He’s just a great fit. Right temperament.”
Larry Levitt, executive vice president of health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation, said that Becerra “has been perhaps the biggest thorn in President Trump's side on the ACA, reproductive health, and immigrant rights. If confirmed, he will have an opportunity to overturn much of what Trump has done.” He added: “It's been more under the radar, but Xavier Becerra has also aggressively gone after anti-competitive practices in the hospital industry that keep prices high.”
Becerra will face questions from Republicans about qualifications and his past support for Medicare for All. “I will meet with Xavier Becerra to ask how his political donations from insurance companies and his support for abortions and Medicare for All makes him qualified to serve as the Secretary of Health and Human Services,” Indiana Senator Mike Braun (R-IN), who sits on the Senate health committee, said, according to Bloomberg News.
Vivek Murthy as surgeon general. Murthy held the same job under President Barack Obama.
Rochelle Walensky, an infectious disease expert at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Walensky has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s pandemic response.
“In the Biden administration, the CDC will take on a much larger and public role,” Politico reports, “with plans to revive regular media briefings and give a central role to career officials who have been pushed aside by President Donald Trump. Biden and his advisers have emphasized that they want to prioritize scientists over politics in responding to the pandemic.”
Anthony Fauci will stay on in his role as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases but also serve as Biden’s chief medical adviser on the coronavirus.
Jeff Zients to be coordinator of the Covid-19 response and counselor to the president. Zients is a former management consultant and business executive who is serving as Biden transition co-chair. He served as acting director of the Office of Management and Budget and National Economic Council director under Obama but is best known for helping to fix the “Cash for Clunkers” program and the HealthCare.gov website after its problem-plagued rollout.
Marcella Nunez-Smith, an associate professor at the Yale School of Medicine, as Covid-19 Equity Task Force chair, a new job in which the transition team says she will advise Biden on efforts to reduce “disparities in response, care, and treatment, including racial and ethnic disparities.”
“This trusted and accomplished team of leaders will bring the highest level of integrity, scientific rigor, and crisis-management experience to one of the toughest challenges America has ever faced — getting the pandemic under control so that the American people can get back to work, back to their lives, and back to their loved ones,” Biden said in a statement.
Biden has not yet named his picks to head the Food and Drug Administration or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.


thefiscaltimes--2020-12-04--Biden Calls for Urgent Action on $900 Billion Stimulus Deal

President-elect Joe Biden on Friday called for “ urgent action ” on a coronavirus-relief package , indicating that lawmakers should pass a bipartisan compromise package as a “ down payment ” toward additional coronavirus aid after he takes office .
“ Americans need help and they need it now , ” the president-elect said Friday .
“ And they need more to come early next year .
But I must tell you I am encouraged by the bipartisan efforts in the Senate around a $ 900 billion package for relief.
” Biden warned that without quick action to provide relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ the future will be very bleak.
” Biden made clear that he would seek to work with Republicans to provide more economic stimulus next year .
“ Congress and President Trump must get a deal done for the American people , but any package passed in the lame duck session is not enough .
It ’ s just the start , ” he said .
“ Congress will need to act again in January.
” Biden said he was confident that he ’ ll be able to get Republicans to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year because the need will be so dire .
He also touched on the deficit concerns that have been raised by some Republicans in arguing against additional stimulus .
“ By acting now , even with deficit financing , we can add to growth in the near future , ” he said .
“ In fact , economic research shows that with conditions like today ’ s crisis — especially with such low interest rates — not taking the actions I ’ m proposing , will hurt the economy , scar the workforce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the national debt.
” Pelosi says “ there is momentum ” toward a deal : House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday said that momentum is building on Capitol Hill toward a coronavirus relief deal and defended her past handling of negotiations , including her pushback on a White House offer of about $ 1.8 trillion , larger than the deal now being discussed .
At her weekly press conference , Pelosi ( D-CA ) said she had spoken with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) by phone on Thursday and said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group of lawmakers earlier this week proposed a $ 908 billion compromise deal .
“ There is momentum , ” Pelosi told reporters .
“ And so I am pleased that the tone of our conversations is one that is indicative of the decision to get the job done.
” Aid to state and local governments , which many Republicans oppose , and a “ liability shield ” protecting businesses and hospitals from coronavirus-related lawsuits , which Democrats have rejected , remain contentious issues .
Negotiators have agreed that aid to state and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jurisdiction ’ s loss of revenue , not its population , The Washington Post reports .
‘ Not a mistake ’ : Pelosi said her handling of earlier talks was “ not a mistake ” and explained that she was now willing to accept a smaller deal — the sort she had long rejected — because the election of Joe Biden as president and the development of promising vaccine candidates had changed the dynamic , creating the promise that an additional Covid-related rescue package could be done next year .
“ With a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for this , with the idea that we will have a vaccine , it ’ s a complete game-changer from then , ” she said .
After months of stalemate , Pelosi said that Congress would not leave for the upcoming holidays without reaching a deal .
“ We must get it done before we leave , ” she said .
“ We can not leave without it.
” Sanders comes out against bipartisan package : As lawmakers scramble to reach a deal , the latest coronavirus relief plan still faces plenty of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) on Friday said he would vote against the compromise package and would require significant revisions before he could support it .
The framework being considered doesn ’ t include another round of $ 1,200 direct payments .
“ Tens of millions of Americans living in desperation today would receive absolutely no financial help from this proposal .
That is not acceptable , ” Sanders said in a statement .
Some conservative lawmakers have also come out against the proposed package .
“ There ’ s widespread opposition among conservatives , particularly among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending money we don ’ t have , ” Jason Pye , vice president for legislative affairs for FreedomWorks , a conservative advocacy group , according to The Washington Post .
What ’ s next : Negotiators hope to reach a deal and release the legislative text by Monday .
Pelosi and McConnell hope to tie the coronavirus-relief legislation to a broader , $ 1.4 trillion omnibus spending package , but time is running short .
“ The sheer number of outstanding items at such a late stage makes it increasingly likely that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending bill to complete their work before leaving for the holidays , ” Politico reports .
“ Such a decision could be made early next week if lawmakers fail to make significant progress over the weekend .
”

President-elect Joe Biden on Friday called for “urgent action” on a coronavirus-relief package, indicating that lawmakers should pass a bipartisan compromise package as a “down payment” toward additional coronavirus aid after he takes office.
“Americans need help and they need it now,” the president-elect said Friday. “And they need more to come early next year. But I must tell you I am encouraged by the bipartisan efforts in the Senate around a $900 billion package for relief.”
Biden warned that without quick action to provide relief as Covid cases surge across the country, “the future will be very bleak.”
Biden made clear that he would seek to work with Republicans to provide more economic stimulus next year. “Congress and President Trump must get a deal done for the American people, but any package passed in the lame duck session is not enough. It’s just the start,” he said. “Congress will need to act again in January.”
Biden said he was confident that he’ll be able to get Republicans to go along with an additional Covid package next year because the need will be so dire.
He also touched on the deficit concerns that have been raised by some Republicans in arguing against additional stimulus. “By acting now, even with deficit financing, we can add to growth in the near future,” he said. “In fact, economic research shows that with conditions like today’s crisis — especially with such low interest rates — not taking the actions I’m proposing, will hurt the economy, scar the workforce, reduce growth, and add to the national debt.”
Pelosi says “there is momentum” toward a deal: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday said that momentum is building on Capitol Hill toward a coronavirus relief deal and defended her past handling of negotiations, including her pushback on a White House offer of about $1.8 trillion, larger than the deal now being discussed.
At her weekly press conference, Pelosi (D-CA) said she had spoken with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) by phone on Thursday and said talks were making progress after a bipartisan group of lawmakers earlier this week proposed a $908 billion compromise deal.
“There is momentum,” Pelosi told reporters. “And so I am pleased that the tone of our conversations is one that is indicative of the decision to get the job done.”
Aid to state and local governments, which many Republicans oppose, and a “liability shield” protecting businesses and hospitals from coronavirus-related lawsuits, which Democrats have rejected, remain contentious issues. Negotiators have agreed that aid to state and local governments should be tied to a jurisdiction’s loss of revenue, not its population, The Washington Post reports.
‘Not a mistake’: Pelosi said her handling of earlier talks was “not a mistake” and explained that she was now willing to accept a smaller deal — the sort she had long rejected — because the election of Joe Biden as president and the development of promising vaccine candidates had changed the dynamic, creating the promise that an additional Covid-related rescue package could be done next year.
“With a Democratic president committed to a scientific solution for this, with the idea that we will have a vaccine, it’s a complete game-changer from then,” she said.
After months of stalemate, Pelosi said that Congress would not leave for the upcoming holidays without reaching a deal. “We must get it done before we leave,” she said. “We cannot leave without it.”
Sanders comes out against bipartisan package: As lawmakers scramble to reach a deal, the latest coronavirus relief plan still faces plenty of hurdles. Sen Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on Friday said he would vote against the compromise package and would require significant revisions before he could support it.
The framework being considered doesn’t include another round of $1,200 direct payments. “Tens of millions of Americans living in desperation today would receive absolutely no financial help from this proposal. That is not acceptable,” Sanders said in a statement.
Some conservative lawmakers have also come out against the proposed package. “There’s widespread opposition among conservatives, particularly among our activists who are sick of Congress spending money we don’t have,” Jason Pye, vice president for legislative affairs for FreedomWorks, a conservative advocacy group, according to The Washington Post.
What’s next: Negotiators hope to reach a deal and release the legislative text by Monday. Pelosi and McConnell hope to tie the coronavirus-relief legislation to a broader, $1.4 trillion omnibus spending package, but time is running short. “The sheer number of outstanding items at such a late stage makes it increasingly likely that congressional negotiators will require a brief stopgap spending bill to complete their work before leaving for the holidays,” Politico reports. “Such a decision could be made early next week if lawmakers fail to make significant progress over the weekend.”


thefiscaltimes--2020-12-09--Congress Buys More Time for Covid-Relief Deal, but Talks Are Going ‘Nowhere’

The House voted 343 to 67 Wednesday to approve a one-week measure that would keep the government funded until December 18 , providing Congress with a bit more time to hash out a full-year funding bill and perhaps finalize an elusive Covid-relief package .
The Senate is expected to vote on the spending bill before a Friday deadline .
The path toward a coronavirus package remains far less certain , clouded by competing proposals and continuing disagreement over key provisions .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin jumped back into the negotiations late Tuesday , with a $ 916 billion proposal that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion one currently under discussion by a bipartisan group of centrist lawmakers .
Mnuchin said the proposal has the support of Republican leaders including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) , who had previously offered a smaller package worth about $ 500 billion .
Democratic leaders said unified GOP support for a larger proposal was a sign of progress but were quick to criticize the details — especially the absence of any money for supplemental federal unemployment benefits , which in the centrist package are provided at $ 300 per week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House proposes to send one-time payments of up to $ 600 to most Americans , at a cost of $ 164 billion , while spending $ 140 billion less on unemployment aid relative to the bipartisan proposal .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) said in a joint statement that they were concerned that White House involvement could undermine negotiations .
“ While it is progress that Leader McConnell has signed off on a $ 916 billion offer that is based off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s proposal must not be allowed to obstruct the bipartisan Congressional talks that are underway , ” they said .
“ Members of the House and Senate have been engaged in good-faith negotiations and continue to make progress .
The bipartisan talks are the best hope for a bipartisan solution.
” The Democratic leaders also made clear that they rejected the White House proposal to spend less on unemployment aid : “ The President ’ s proposal starts by cutting the unemployment insurance proposal being discussed by bipartisan Members of the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 40 billion .
That is unacceptable.
” Major issues still unresolved : Mnuchin ’ s proposal includes provisions on issues that have stymied negotiators so far — liability protections for businesses , schools and hospitals that Republicans says are essential and funds for state and local governments that Democrats insist are needed to avoid layoffs and help pay for vaccinations .
But there ’ s no sign that either side is willing to give way on their demands , or their opposition to the other side ’ s requirements .
More details @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : The release Wednesday of more details from the $ 908 billion centrist proposal did little to change the picture .
Under that still-developing plan , state and local governments would receive $ 160 billion , and businesses would receive liability protections .
A document outlining the details refers to agreements in principle on the issues , but only insofar as they allow “ good faith negotiations ” to continue , according to The Hill .
McConnell ’ s offer on Tuesday to drop both issues from the negotiations — no liability shield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was quickly rejected and seen by at least one lawmaker as a sign that the Senate leader isn ’ t really interested in reaching an agreement .
“ Mitch doesn ’ t want a deal , ” Sen. Joe Manchin ( D-WV ) told reporters .
“ You have to have both.
” McConnell blamed Democrats for the lack of progress .
“ At every turn they ’ ve delayed , deflected , moved the goalpost and made the huge number of places where Congress agrees into a hostage ... for the few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said on the Senate floor .
The bottom line : Taking stock of where negotiations stood Wednesday afternoon , Politico ’ s Playbook team said talks were going “ nowhere.
” Just nine days before Congress is scheduled to leave town , “ there ’ s no bill , no sense of who is in charge , no breakthroughs on any long-held policy disputes , ” they said .

The House voted 343 to 67 Wednesday to approve a one-week measure that would keep the government funded until December 18, providing Congress with a bit more time to hash out a full-year funding bill and perhaps finalize an elusive Covid-relief package.
The Senate is expected to vote on the spending bill before a Friday deadline.
The path toward a coronavirus package remains far less certain, clouded by competing proposals and continuing disagreement over key provisions.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin jumped back into the negotiations late Tuesday, with a $916 billion proposal that is slightly larger than the $908 billion one currently under discussion by a bipartisan group of centrist lawmakers.
Mnuchin said the proposal has the support of Republican leaders including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who had previously offered a smaller package worth about $500 billion.
Democratic leaders said unified GOP support for a larger proposal was a sign of progress but were quick to criticize the details — especially the absence of any money for supplemental federal unemployment benefits, which in the centrist package are provided at $300 per week for four months. Instead, the White House proposes to send one-time payments of up to $600 to most Americans, at a cost of $164 billion, while spending $140 billion less on unemployment aid relative to the bipartisan proposal.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said in a joint statement that they were concerned that White House involvement could undermine negotiations. “While it is progress that Leader McConnell has signed off on a $916 billion offer that is based off of the bipartisan framework, the President’s proposal must not be allowed to obstruct the bipartisan Congressional talks that are underway,” they said. “Members of the House and Senate have been engaged in good-faith negotiations and continue to make progress. The bipartisan talks are the best hope for a bipartisan solution.”
The Democratic leaders also made clear that they rejected the White House proposal to spend less on unemployment aid: “The President’s proposal starts by cutting the unemployment insurance proposal being discussed by bipartisan Members of the House and Senate from $180 billion to $40 billion. That is unacceptable.”
Major issues still unresolved: Mnuchin’s proposal includes provisions on issues that have stymied negotiators so far — liability protections for businesses, schools and hospitals that Republicans says are essential and funds for state and local governments that Democrats insist are needed to avoid layoffs and help pay for vaccinations. But there’s no sign that either side is willing to give way on their demands, or their opposition to the other side’s requirements.
More details on the bipartisan $908 billion plan: The release Wednesday of more details from the $908 billion centrist proposal did little to change the picture. Under that still-developing plan, state and local governments would receive $160 billion, and businesses would receive liability protections. A document outlining the details refers to agreements in principle on the issues, but only insofar as they allow “good faith negotiations” to continue, according to The Hill.
McConnell’s offer on Tuesday to drop both issues from the negotiations — no liability shield and no state and local money — was quickly rejected and seen by at least one lawmaker as a sign that the Senate leader isn’t really interested in reaching an agreement. “Mitch doesn’t want a deal,” Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) told reporters. “You have to have both.”
McConnell blamed Democrats for the lack of progress. “At every turn they’ve delayed, deflected, moved the goalpost and made the huge number of places where Congress agrees into a hostage ... for the few places where we do not agree,” he said on the Senate floor.
The bottom line: Taking stock of where negotiations stood Wednesday afternoon, Politico’s Playbook team said talks were going “nowhere.” Just nine days before Congress is scheduled to leave town, “there’s no bill, no sense of who is in charge, no breakthroughs on any long-held policy disputes,” they said.


thefiscaltimes--2020-12-08--Congress Barrels Toward Veto Showdown With Trump

His time in office may be nearly over , but President Trump is headed for what may be a first : an attempt by Congress to override his veto .
Lawmakers are moving ahead with the $ 741 billion National Defense Authorization Act this week , despite Trump ’ s threat to veto the bill over its failure to remove legal protections for tech companies .
The House is expected to vote Tuesday on the annual defense policy bill , with the Senate following soon thereafter .
On Tuesday morning , Trump reiterated a threat he has made several times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Communications Decency Act that provides broad immunity to content posted on sites run by the likes of Facebook and Twitter .
“ I hope House Republicans will vote against the very weak National Defense Authorization Act ( NDAA ) , which I will VETO , ” Trump tweeted .
“ Must include a termination of Section 230 ( for National Security purposes ) ... ” The president also referred to issues involving national monuments , troop levels overseas and 5G technologies , though it ’ s not clear if he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers to consider .
Veto by the numbers : Both the House and Senate passed earlier versions of the bill with veto-proof two-thirds majorities , but it ’ s not clear that Congress could provide the same margins this time around .
The House Freedom Caucus said Tuesday that it supported the president ’ s veto threat , and the group ’ s roughly three dozen members could tilt the House vote in favor of a successful veto .
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy ( R-CA ) signaled that he would not support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I don ’ t believe Republicans , in our work with the president , always , that you vote to override a veto , ” McCarthy told reporters Tuesday .
Other Republicans called for lawmakers to support the bill .
“ The stronger the vote , the less chance of having to deal with a veto later , ” Rep. Mac Thornberry ( TX ) , the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee , told reporters Monday .
“ If somebody is going to vote no on a bill because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that has nothing to do with it … that can ’ t be the standard , ” Thornberry added .
Another veto option : Even if Congress is able to provide veto-proof majorities , Trump has another option for gumming up the works : the pocket veto .
A president can simply refuse to sign a bill that lands on his desk , allowing the legislation to expire after 10 days ( not including Sundays ) .
Trump could take the route , forcing Congress to return to town after Christmas for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a pandemic .

His time in office may be nearly over, but President Trump is headed for what may be a first: an attempt by Congress to override his veto.
Lawmakers are moving ahead with the $741 billion National Defense Authorization Act this week, despite Trump’s threat to veto the bill over its failure to remove legal protections for tech companies.
The House is expected to vote Tuesday on the annual defense policy bill, with the Senate following soon thereafter. On Tuesday morning, Trump reiterated a threat he has made several times before, referring to a specific provision of the Communications Decency Act that provides broad immunity to content posted on sites run by the likes of Facebook and Twitter.
“I hope House Republicans will vote against the very weak National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which I will VETO,” Trump tweeted. “Must include a termination of Section 230 (for National Security purposes) ...”
The president also referred to issues involving national monuments, troop levels overseas and 5G technologies, though it’s not clear if he was issuing a new set of demands for lawmakers to consider.
Veto by the numbers: Both the House and Senate passed earlier versions of the bill with veto-proof two-thirds majorities, but it’s not clear that Congress could provide the same margins this time around. The House Freedom Caucus said Tuesday that it supported the president’s veto threat, and the group’s roughly three dozen members could tilt the House vote in favor of a successful veto.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) signaled that he would not support an effort to overcome a veto. “I don’t believe Republicans, in our work with the president, always, that you vote to override a veto,” McCarthy told reporters Tuesday.
Other Republicans called for lawmakers to support the bill. “The stronger the vote, the less chance of having to deal with a veto later,” Rep. Mac Thornberry (TX), the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, told reporters Monday. “If somebody is going to vote no on a bill because of what’s not in it, that has nothing to do with it … that can’t be the standard,” Thornberry added.
Another veto option: Even if Congress is able to provide veto-proof majorities, Trump has another option for gumming up the works: the pocket veto. A president can simply refuse to sign a bill that lands on his desk, allowing the legislation to expire after 10 days (not including Sundays). Trump could take the route, forcing Congress to return to town after Christmas for another vote – a particularly challenging course during a pandemic.


thefiscaltimes--2020-12-08--Dems Reject McConnell Offer on Covid Relief

Lawmakers introduced a stopgap funding bill Tuesday that would fund the government until December 18 , giving them another week to hash out a full-year bill as well as a relief package to boost the pandemic-ravaged economy .
The House is expected to vote on the bill Wednesday , followed by the Senate .
Negotiations over the relief bill are still hung up on some basic issues , however .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) on Tuesday proposed to drop the two main stumbling blocks – liability protections for businesses that Republicans want and aid for state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ What ’ s the way forward ?
We know the new administration is going to be asking for another package .
What I recommend is we set aside liability and set aside state and local and pass those things that we agree , on knowing full well we 'll be back at this after the first of the year , '' McConnell said , referring to expectations that Congress would negotiate a new Covid relief package once President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January .
McConnell ’ s proposal was quickly rejected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D-NY ) , who charged that it would lead to job losses for essential workers like firefighters and police officers .
“ Leader McConnell has refused to be part of the bipartisan negotiations , ” Schumer said .
“ And now he ’ s sabotaging good faith , bipartisan negotiations because his partisan ideological effort is not getting a good reception.
” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) was also sharply critical of McConnell ’ s offer .
“ Leader McConnell 's efforts to undermine good-faith , bipartisan negotiations are appalling , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ What does Leader McConnell have against our heroes ?
Our health care workers , our first responders and other frontline workers have risked their lives to save lives .
Now , Leader McConnell wants them to lose their jobs and our constituents to lose the essential services they provide .
With vaccine distribution being administered by the states , state and local funding is central to our efforts to crush the virus.
” Among those working directly on the relief package , Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) has proposed a short-term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not been embraced so far .
Lawmakers including Sens .
John Cornyn ( R-TX ) , Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) , Richard Durbin ( D-IL ) and Angus King ( I-ME ) are reportedly continuing to work on a compromise on the question of liability .
A push for more checks : The $ 908 billion proposal from a bipartisan group of centrists that is serving as a general framework for the negotiations does not include direct payments for individuals , but White House officials on Tuesday pushed for the inclusion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half the level provided by the Cares Act last spring .
President Trump has privately expressed support for providing as much as $ 2,000 per person , according to The Washington Post , which noted that the first round of payments included Trump ’ s name printed on the checks .
Sens .
Josh Hawley ( R-MO ) and Bernie Sanders ( I-VT ) have also called for another round of direct payments , saying they would oppose the relief bill if it fails to include them .

Lawmakers introduced a stopgap funding bill Tuesday that would fund the government until December 18, giving them another week to hash out a full-year bill as well as a relief package to boost the pandemic-ravaged economy. The House is expected to vote on the bill Wednesday, followed by the Senate.
Negotiations over the relief bill are still hung up on some basic issues, however.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Tuesday proposed to drop the two main stumbling blocks – liability protections for businesses that Republicans want and aid for state and local governments that Democrats want.
“What’s the way forward? We know the new administration is going to be asking for another package. What I recommend is we set aside liability and set aside state and local and pass those things that we agree, on knowing full well we'll be back at this after the first of the year," McConnell said, referring to expectations that Congress would negotiate a new Covid relief package once President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January.
McConnell’s proposal was quickly rejected by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who charged that it would lead to job losses for essential workers like firefighters and police officers. “Leader McConnell has refused to be part of the bipartisan negotiations,” Schumer said. “And now he’s sabotaging good faith, bipartisan negotiations because his partisan ideological effort is not getting a good reception.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was also sharply critical of McConnell’s offer. “Leader McConnell's efforts to undermine good-faith, bipartisan negotiations are appalling,” Pelosi said in a statement. “What does Leader McConnell have against our heroes? Our health care workers, our first responders and other frontline workers have risked their lives to save lives. Now, Leader McConnell wants them to lose their jobs and our constituents to lose the essential services they provide. With vaccine distribution being administered by the states, state and local funding is central to our efforts to crush the virus.”
Among those working directly on the relief package, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) has proposed a short-term liability shield, but his plan has not been embraced so far. Lawmakers including Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Angus King (I-ME) are reportedly continuing to work on a compromise on the question of liability.
A push for more checks: The $908 billion proposal from a bipartisan group of centrists that is serving as a general framework for the negotiations does not include direct payments for individuals, but White House officials on Tuesday pushed for the inclusion of $600 checks for most Americans – half the level provided by the Cares Act last spring.
President Trump has privately expressed support for providing as much as $2,000 per person, according to The Washington Post, which noted that the first round of payments included Trump’s name printed on the checks.
Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) have also called for another round of direct payments, saying they would oppose the relief bill if it fails to include them.


thefiscaltimes--2020-12-10--Rand Paul Delays Defense Bill, Raising Risk of Shutdown

The House passed the $ 741 billion National Defense Authorization Act on Tuesday with enough votes to overcome a threatened veto by President Trump , and the Senate was expected to follow suit in short order .
But Sen. Rand Paul ( R-KY ) delayed passage of the bill Thursday , in a move that creates the risk of a government shutdown on Saturday .
Paul told Politico that he objects to a provision in the NDAA that would limit the president ’ s ability to remove troops from Afghanistan .
“ That amendment alone is enough to make me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the amount of spending , ” he said .
But that amendment can ’ t be removed without forcing lawmakers to start from scratch on the overall agreement .
Paul ’ s filibuster is also delaying the Senate vote on the one-week government funding bill that was passed by the House on Wednesday .
The Kentucky Republican has reportedly offered to allow a quick vote on the funding bill in exchange for delaying the defense bill vote to Monday , but his holding maneuver was still in effect late Thursday afternoon , raising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a government shutdown , however brief .
“ Drama on the floor ahead of a deadline is nothing new to Paul , who exerts major leverage over the Senate by seizing on imminent deadlines and pushing his priorities , ” Politico said .
“ Paul forced a brief shutdown in 2018 over his moves to cut spending , and using the shutdown deadline to try and get extra concessions on the defense bill is vintage Paul.
” Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) , who has broken with President Trump by supporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while it could be delayed , he expects the vote to occur before the shutdown deadline late Friday .
“ For the information of all senators , we should expect the potential for a late night tonight and the possibility of votes tomorrow , ” he said .

The House passed the $741 billion National Defense Authorization Act on Tuesday with enough votes to overcome a threatened veto by President Trump, and the Senate was expected to follow suit in short order. But Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) delayed passage of the bill Thursday, in a move that creates the risk of a government shutdown on Saturday.
Paul told Politico that he objects to a provision in the NDAA that would limit the president’s ability to remove troops from Afghanistan. “That amendment alone is enough to make me object to it, as well as the amount of spending,” he said. But that amendment can’t be removed without forcing lawmakers to start from scratch on the overall agreement.
Paul’s filibuster is also delaying the Senate vote on the one-week government funding bill that was passed by the House on Wednesday. The Kentucky Republican has reportedly offered to allow a quick vote on the funding bill in exchange for delaying the defense bill vote to Monday, but his holding maneuver was still in effect late Thursday afternoon, raising concerns that Paul could once again force a government shutdown, however brief.
“Drama on the floor ahead of a deadline is nothing new to Paul, who exerts major leverage over the Senate by seizing on imminent deadlines and pushing his priorities,” Politico said. “Paul forced a brief shutdown in 2018 over his moves to cut spending, and using the shutdown deadline to try and get extra concessions on the defense bill is vintage Paul.”
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who has broken with President Trump by supporting the defense bill, said Thursday that while it could be delayed, he expects the vote to occur before the shutdown deadline late Friday. “For the information of all senators, we should expect the potential for a late night tonight and the possibility of votes tomorrow,” he said.


thefiscaltimes--2020-12-10--Jobless Claims Jump to 3-Month High

Jobless Claims Jump to 3-Month High

While lawmakers in Washington remain deadlocked over a new fiscal relief package , the economy is sending signals that it needs more help .
New jobless claims rose sharply to 853,000 last week , the Labor Department announced Thursday , the largest weekly number since September .
Another 428,000 people applied for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance , the temporary federal program that aids self-employed and gig workers , bringing the total of initial claims to 1.3 million , an increase of 276,000 from the week before .
Some economists see the report as another sign that the economy needs a boost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consistent with our expectation that the next jobs report will likely deliver a negative print , reinforcing the need for immediate fiscal stimulus to support the economy , ” Eliza Winger of Bloomberg Economics said .
“ [ L ] ayoffs appear to be rising , consistent with the resurgent virus , ” Heidi Shierholz of the Economic Policy Institute wrote , while also noting that “ last week was the 38th straight week total initial claims were greater than the worst week of the Great Recession.
” Joseph Brusuelas , chief economist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that while the data may be distorted to some extent by the timing of the Thanksgiving holiday , “ there is simply no rational case to be made that the underlying condition in the domestic labor market is improving as the pandemic intensifies .
...
There are officially 9.8 million unemployed people , 19 million on some form of unemployment insurance and millions who have exhausted their benefits.
” “ If it was not clear before , it is very clear now that this condition demands policy attention in the form of fiscal @ @ @ @ @ @

While lawmakers in Washington remain deadlocked over a new fiscal relief package, the economy is sending signals that it needs more help. New jobless claims rose sharply to 853,000 last week, the Labor Department announced Thursday, the largest weekly number since September. Another 428,000 people applied for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, the temporary federal program that aids self-employed and gig workers, bringing the total of initial claims to 1.3 million, an increase of 276,000 from the week before.
Some economists see the report as another sign that the economy needs a boost. “The jump in claims is consistent with our expectation that the next jobs report will likely deliver a negative print, reinforcing the need for immediate fiscal stimulus to support the economy,” Eliza Winger of Bloomberg Economics said.
“[L]ayoffs appear to be rising, consistent with the resurgent virus,” Heidi Shierholz of the Economic Policy Institute wrote, while also noting that “last week was the 38th straight week total initial claims were greater than the worst week of the Great Recession.”
Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at the consulting firm RSM, noted that while the data may be distorted to some extent by the timing of the Thanksgiving holiday, “there is simply no rational case to be made that the underlying condition in the domestic labor market is improving as the pandemic intensifies. ... There are officially 9.8 million unemployed people, 19 million on some form of unemployment insurance and millions who have exhausted their benefits.”
“If it was not clear before, it is very clear now that this condition demands policy attention in the form of fiscal aid,” Brusuelas added.


thefiscaltimes--2020-12-11--Senate Passes One-Week Funding Bill to Avert a Shutdown

The Senate on Friday approved a one-week stopgap bill to fund the government and avoid a partial shutdown after midnight , buying lawmakers more time to negotiate a coronavirus relief plan and finalize a $ 1.4 trillion spending package for the rest of the fiscal year .
The short-term spending bill , cleared by voice vote after the House approved it on Wednesday , sends the bill to President Trump ’ s desk .
It follows an earlier extension of government funding through December 11 , which passed in September .
Both stopgap measures were made necessary because Congress has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annual appropriations bills for the fiscal year that began in October .
Negotiations on the Covid aid package remain mired in uncertainty — and the risk of a shutdown has just been punted to the end of next week .
The Senate vote on the spending bill followed hours of negotiations with senators who had threatened to hold up the bill , Roll Call ’ s David Lerman reports : “ Leaders beat back efforts to attach measures over military policy , blocking lawmakers ' pay during a budgetary impasse , and offering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to households during the COVID-19 pandemic .
… “ Another holdup was averted when Sen. Rand Paul , R-Ky. , relented on his push to strip troop withdrawal language from the unrelated defense authorization bill .
And Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , backed off a threat to hold up the bill if it did n't include rebate checks of $ 1,200 per adult and $ 500 per child.
” Sanders pushes for stimulus checks : Sanders has teamed up with GOP Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri to push for another round of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned Friday that they will continue to press for a vote on the checks next week .
“ If I have anything to say about it — and I guess I do — we ’ re not going to go home for the Christmas holidays unless we make sure that we provide for the millions of families in this country who are suffering , ” Sanders said on the Senate floor .
What ’ s next : Negotiators have just days left to finalize the full-year omnibus spending bill and write the legislation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed .
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby ( R-AL ) reportedly said that the spending bill likely won ’ t be finished until next week and that the main sticking point remaining involves how to handle $ 12.5 billion for a Department of Veterans Affairs program that gives some veterans access to private care .
Congressional leaders still hope to attach a coronavirus relief package to the spending legislation , but the two parties remain split over key elements of that plan .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provisions covering aid to state and local governments and liability protection from pandemic-related lawsuits from the package , but Democrats again dismissed the suggestion , insisting that it was critical to support states facing budget crunches .

The Senate on Friday approved a one-week stopgap bill to fund the government and avoid a partial shutdown after midnight, buying lawmakers more time to negotiate a coronavirus relief plan and finalize a $1.4 trillion spending package for the rest of the fiscal year.
The short-term spending bill, cleared by voice vote after the House approved it on Wednesday, sends the bill to President Trump’s desk. It follows an earlier extension of government funding through December 11, which passed in September. Both stopgap measures were made necessary because Congress has yet to enact any of the 12 annual appropriations bills for the fiscal year that began in October.
Negotiations on the Covid aid package remain mired in uncertainty — and the risk of a shutdown has just been punted to the end of next week.
The Senate vote on the spending bill followed hours of negotiations with senators who had threatened to hold up the bill, Roll Call’s David Lerman reports:
“Leaders beat back efforts to attach measures over military policy, blocking lawmakers' pay during a budgetary impasse, and offering a new round of tax rebate checks to households during the COVID-19 pandemic. …
“Another holdup was averted when Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., relented on his push to strip troop withdrawal language from the unrelated defense authorization bill. And Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., backed off a threat to hold up the bill if it didn't include rebate checks of $1,200 per adult and $500 per child.”
Sanders pushes for stimulus checks: Sanders has teamed up with GOP Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri to push for another round of stimulus payments, and the two senators warned Friday that they will continue to press for a vote on the checks next week. “If I have anything to say about it — and I guess I do — we’re not going to go home for the Christmas holidays unless we make sure that we provide for the millions of families in this country who are suffering,” Sanders said on the Senate floor.
What’s next: Negotiators have just days left to finalize the full-year omnibus spending bill and write the legislation, or another stopgap measure will be needed. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) reportedly said that the spending bill likely won’t be finished until next week and that the main sticking point remaining involves how to handle $12.5 billion for a Department of Veterans Affairs program that gives some veterans access to private care.
Congressional leaders still hope to attach a coronavirus relief package to the spending legislation, but the two parties remain split over key elements of that plan. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Friday reiterated his call for dropping contentious provisions covering aid to state and local governments and liability protection from pandemic-related lawsuits from the package, but Democrats again dismissed the suggestion, insisting that it was critical to support states facing budget crunches.


thefiscaltimes--2020-12-10--McConnell Deals a Blow to Covid Relief Talks

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has called himself the “ grim reaper , ” relishing his role in killing off the legislative priorities of Democrats led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi .
McConnell may have swung his scythe again , as his staff reportedly told congressional leaders Wednesday night that Senate Republicans likely would not support the $ 908 billion Covid-relief package being negotiated by a bipartisan group of lawmakers .
Two issues have proved to be major sticking points in reaching any deal on additional aid : money to help state and local governments , which Democrats want but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for businesses , hospitals and schools against coronavirus-related lawsuits , a priority for Republicans that Democrats reject .
McConnell earlier this week suggested dropping both provisions and proceeding with a narrower package , but Democratic leaders quickly dismissed the idea and said that the ongoing bipartisan talks on a compromise package represented the best hope for a deal .
“ What McConnell is putting forth in terms of liability is such an assault on American workers that I hope that the group goes nowhere near what he is presenting , ” Pelosi told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their plan : Lawmakers working on the compromise package reportedly have reached agreement on how to distribute $ 160 billion in aid to state and local governments and continue to discuss a compromise on liability protections .
“ The bipartisan group has tried to come up with a middle-ground approach that , instead of blanket immunity , would provide businesses with an ‘ affirmative defense ’ for fighting lawsuits if they follow certain health standards , but the group has struggled to nail down the language , ” Roll Call reports .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their plan , McConnell ’ s staffers reportedly told leadership offices that the majority leader did not see a path toward a deal that would be acceptable to Senate Republicans .
“ McConnell has repeatedly emphasized that he believes more assistance is needed to help the economy , but he has framed the emerging bipartisan package as unworkable , ” The Washington Post ’ s Mike DeBonis and Jeff Stein report .
“ His staffers warned that Senate Republicans would reject the group ’ s potential agreements on a temporary liability shield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aid to state and local governments.
” McConnell on Thursday again demanded a broad liability shield , and he blamed Democrats for blocking a deal Republicans would accept .
“ Our Democratic colleagues have not even let us pass noncontroversial money to invest in vaccine distribution — not unless the two parties settle a whole list of issues that are controversial the way they want , '' he said .
What ’ s next : In a sign that prospects for a deal have dimmed , House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer ( D-MD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them they won ’ t need to return until at least Tuesday evening .
That would leave Congress less than four days to finalize a spending deal needed to prevent a government shutdown , assuming the Senate can approve legislation already passed by the House extending the current December 11 funding deadline by a week .
But lawmakers were reportedly uncertain Thursday about how the Senate would get that done .
Pelosi indicated that talks on the emergency relief legislation could drag on beyond Christmas , even as several key aid programs are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the month , potentially causing millions of Americans to lose unemployment benefits and protections keeping them from being evicted .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has called himself the “grim reaper,” relishing his role in killing off the legislative priorities of Democrats led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
McConnell may have swung his scythe again, as his staff reportedly told congressional leaders Wednesday night that Senate Republicans likely would not support the $908 billion Covid-relief package being negotiated by a bipartisan group of lawmakers.
Two issues have proved to be major sticking points in reaching any deal on additional aid: money to help state and local governments, which Democrats want but Republicans have resisted, and legal protections for businesses, hospitals and schools against coronavirus-related lawsuits, a priority for Republicans that Democrats reject.
McConnell earlier this week suggested dropping both provisions and proceeding with a narrower package, but Democratic leaders quickly dismissed the idea and said that the ongoing bipartisan talks on a compromise package represented the best hope for a deal.
“What McConnell is putting forth in terms of liability is such an assault on American workers that I hope that the group goes nowhere near what he is presenting,” Pelosi told reporters.
Negotiators still working to finalize their plan: Lawmakers working on the compromise package reportedly have reached agreement on how to distribute $160 billion in aid to state and local governments and continue to discuss a compromise on liability protections. “The bipartisan group has tried to come up with a middle-ground approach that, instead of blanket immunity, would provide businesses with an ‘affirmative defense’ for fighting lawsuits if they follow certain health standards, but the group has struggled to nail down the language,” Roll Call reports.
But even as negotiators work to finalize details of their plan, McConnell’s staffers reportedly told leadership offices that the majority leader did not see a path toward a deal that would be acceptable to Senate Republicans.
“McConnell has repeatedly emphasized that he believes more assistance is needed to help the economy, but he has framed the emerging bipartisan package as unworkable,” The Washington Post’s Mike DeBonis and Jeff Stein report. “His staffers warned that Senate Republicans would reject the group’s potential agreements on a temporary liability shield for businesses, as well as on aid to state and local governments.”
McConnell on Thursday again demanded a broad liability shield, and he blamed Democrats for blocking a deal Republicans would accept. “Our Democratic colleagues have not even let us pass noncontroversial money to invest in vaccine distribution — not unless the two parties settle a whole list of issues that are controversial the way they want," he said.
What’s next: In a sign that prospects for a deal have dimmed, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) sent members home Thursday and told them they won’t need to return until at least Tuesday evening. That would leave Congress less than four days to finalize a spending deal needed to prevent a government shutdown, assuming the Senate can approve legislation already passed by the House extending the current December 11 funding deadline by a week. But lawmakers were reportedly uncertain Thursday about how the Senate would get that done.
Pelosi indicated that talks on the emergency relief legislation could drag on beyond Christmas, even as several key aid programs are set to expire by the end of the month, potentially causing millions of Americans to lose unemployment benefits and protections keeping them from being evicted.


thefiscaltimes--2020-12-09--CBO Report Lists 83 Options for Reducing the Deficit

The federal budget deficit in October and November , the first two months of fiscal year 2021 , totaled $ 430 billion , an increase of $ 87 billion , or 25 % , over the same period last year , the Congressional Budget Office estimated on Tuesday .
Spending rose by 9 % while revenues fell by 3 % .
Individual income tax and payroll tax receipts dropped by 4 % while corporate income taxes decreased 13 % .
Deficits have risen dramatically under President Trump , climbing from $ 585 billion in fiscal year 2016 to nearly $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief in fiscal year 2020 lifted a deficit that was already projected to top $ 1 trillion to a record $ 3.13 trillion .
While deficit reduction has become less of a priority as the nation grapples with the pandemic and its economic toll , CBO on Wednesday issued the latest edition of a periodic report laying out dozens of options — 83 in all this time — for reducing the deficit over the coming decade .
Some of the options would save relatively little , such as limiting enrollment in the Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is projected to save between $ 3 billion and $ 8 billion over the decade .
Others would save or raise hundreds of billions of dollars : • Setting caps on federal spending for Medicaid ( $ 353 billion to $ 959 billion ) • Increasing the payroll tax cap for Social Security ( $ 647 billion to $ 1.024 trillion ) Most of the options in the report would save $ 10 billion or more over 10 years .
In a statement accompanying the report , CBO Direct Phillip Swagel warns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy changes to put the federal budget on a sustainable long-term path .
“ Beyond the coming decade , the fiscal outlook is daunting , ” he says .
CBO notes that the options “ are intended to reflect a range of possibilities rather than to rank priorities or present a comprehensive list ” and it says that the inclusion or exclusion of an idea does not represent an endorsement or rejection .
CBO ’ s website includes a search tool that allows users to choose options based on potential savings or budget @ @

The federal budget deficit in October and November, the first two months of fiscal year 2021, totaled $430 billion, an increase of $87 billion, or 25%, over the same period last year, the Congressional Budget Office estimated on Tuesday. Spending rose by 9% while revenues fell by 3%. Individual income tax and payroll tax receipts dropped by 4% while corporate income taxes decreased 13%.
Deficits have risen dramatically under President Trump, climbing from $585 billion in fiscal year 2016 to nearly $1 trillion in 2019. Emergency coronavirus relief in fiscal year 2020 lifted a deficit that was already projected to top $1 trillion to a record $3.13 trillion.
While deficit reduction has become less of a priority as the nation grapples with the pandemic and its economic toll, CBO on Wednesday issued the latest edition of a periodic report laying out dozens of options — 83 in all this time — for reducing the deficit over the coming decade.
Some of the options would save relatively little, such as limiting enrollment in the Department of Agriculture’s conservation programs, which is projected to save between $3 billion and $8 billion over the decade. Others would save or raise hundreds of billions of dollars:
Reducing funding for international affairs programs ($117 billion)
Setting caps on federal spending for Medicaid ($353 billion to $959 billion)
Cutting the Defense Department’s budget ($317 billion to $607 billion)
Increasing the payroll tax cap for Social Security ($647 billion to $1.024 trillion)
Eliminating itemized deductions ($1.718 trillion)
Imposing a 5% Value-Added Tax ($1.82 trillion to $2.83 trillion)
Most of the options in the report would save $10 billion or more over 10 years.
In a statement accompanying the report, CBO Direct Phillip Swagel warns that lawmakers will need to make significant policy changes to put the federal budget on a sustainable long-term path. “Beyond the coming decade, the fiscal outlook is daunting,” he says.
CBO notes that the options “are intended to reflect a range of possibilities rather than to rank priorities or present a comprehensive list” and it says that the inclusion or exclusion of an idea does not represent an endorsement or rejection. CBO’s website includes a search tool that allows users to choose options based on potential savings or budget category.


thefiscaltimes--2020-12-09--Biden Sets 3 Goals for Fighting Covid Over His First 100 Days

As the United States surpassed 15 million confirmed Covid-19 infections on Tuesday , President-elect Joe Biden formally introduced key members of his health team and laid out three goals for combatting the pandemic during his first 100 days in office : “ Masking .
Vaccinations .
Opening schools.
” Biden said that he the pandemic won ’ t end in his first 100 days , and he warned that “ things may well get worse before they get better.
” But he said he was confident that over his first 100 days , “ we can change the course of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the better.
” To do that , he said , he would sign an executive order on his first day as president requiring masks in places where he can do so , including in federal buildings and during interstate travel on planes , trains and buses .
And he reiterated that he would ask governors and mayors to require masks and ask the American public to wear masks for 100 days to help reduce the spread of the virus .
“ It ’ s not a political statement — it 's a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden also said he and his team would get Americans at least 100 million Covid-19 vaccine shots in his first 100 days , calling on Congress to pass a $ 900 billion bipartisan Covid-relief package and provide the needed funding , warning that millions of Americans may otherwise have to wait months longer to get vaccinated .
“ This will be one of the hardest and most costly operational challenges in our nation ’ s history , ” he said .
“ Without urgent action by this Congress this month to put sufficient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which the bipartisan group is working on — there is a real chance that , after an early round of vaccinations , the effort will slow and stall.
” Biden added that getting students back in classrooms should be a national priority , again urging Congress to provide money toward the goal .
“ If Congress provides the funding we need to protect students , educators , and staff , and if states and cities put strong public health measures in place that we all follow , then my team will work to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be open by the end of my first 100 days , ” he said .
Becerra Faces Senate Fight : Biden ’ s pick for Health and Human Services secretary , California Attorney General Xavier Becerra , may be headed for a confirmation fight in the Republican-controlled Senate , as a number of GOP senators have already raised questions about his qualifications .
• ” I ’ m not sure what his Health and Human Services credentials are , ” said Senator John Cornyn of Texas , according to Bloomberg News .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Azar who used to work for pharma and have a health-care background , ” he said referring to the current HHS secretary .
• Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas called Becerra a “ disaster ” who is “ unqualified ” to lead the department .
“ I ’ ll be voting no , and Becerra should be rejected by the Senate , ” he wrote on Twitter .
Republicans have signaled that they will delay hearings on Becerra ’ s nomination .
Biden on Tuesday praised Becerra ’ s track record .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to health care , reduce racial health disparities , protect the Affordable Care Act , and take on powerful special interests who prey on and profit off people ’ s health — from opioid manufacturers to Big Tobacco , ” he said .

As the United States surpassed 15 million confirmed Covid-19 infections on Tuesday, President-elect Joe Biden formally introduced key members of his health team and laid out three goals for combatting the pandemic during his first 100 days in office: “Masking. Vaccinations. Opening schools.”
Biden said that he the pandemic won’t end in his first 100 days, and he warned that “things may well get worse before they get better.” But he said he was confident that over his first 100 days, “we can change the course of the disease and change life in America for the better.”
To do that, he said, he would sign an executive order on his first day as president requiring masks in places where he can do so, including in federal buildings and during interstate travel on planes, trains and buses. And he reiterated that he would ask governors and mayors to require masks and ask the American public to wear masks for 100 days to help reduce the spread of the virus. “It’s not a political statement — it's a patriotic act,” he said.
Biden also said he and his team would get Americans at least 100 million Covid-19 vaccine shots in his first 100 days, calling on Congress to pass a $900 billion bipartisan Covid-relief package and provide the needed funding, warning that millions of Americans may otherwise have to wait months longer to get vaccinated.
“This will be one of the hardest and most costly operational challenges in our nation’s history,” he said. “Without urgent action by this Congress this month to put sufficient resources into vaccine distribution and manufacturing — which the bipartisan group is working on — there is a real chance that, after an early round of vaccinations, the effort will slow and stall.”
Biden added that getting students back in classrooms should be a national priority, again urging Congress to provide money toward the goal. “If Congress provides the funding we need to protect students, educators, and staff, and if states and cities put strong public health measures in place that we all follow, then my team will work to see that the majority of our schools can be open by the end of my first 100 days,” he said.
Becerra Faces Senate Fight: Biden’s pick for Health and Human Services secretary, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, may be headed for a confirmation fight in the Republican-controlled Senate, as a number of GOP senators have already raised questions about his qualifications.
”I’m not sure what his Health and Human Services credentials are,” said Senator John Cornyn of Texas, according to Bloomberg News. “It’s not like Alex Azar who used to work for pharma and have a health-care background,” he said referring to the current HHS secretary.
Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas called Becerra a “disaster” who is “unqualified” to lead the department. “I’ll be voting no, and Becerra should be rejected by the Senate,” he wrote on Twitter.
Republicans have signaled that they will delay hearings on Becerra’s nomination.
Biden on Tuesday praised Becerra’s track record. “Xavier spent his career fighting to expand access to health care, reduce racial health disparities, protect the Affordable Care Act, and take on powerful special interests who prey on and profit off people’s health — from opioid manufacturers to Big Tobacco,” he said.


thefiscaltimes--2020-12-15--Congressional Negotiators Close In on $1.4 Trillion Spending Bill

House and Senate negotiators are reportedly closing in on an agreement on a $ 1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill for fiscal year 2021 , which began October 1 .
The deal would avert a government shutdown after midnight on Friday and provide a legislative vehicle for a potential Covid-relief package and other items left on the lame-duck Congress ’ year-end agenda .
“ Negotiators have reached compromises on some of the thorniest issues including border wall spending , Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention capacity and funding for veterans health care programs .
A handful of smaller items sent to congressional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but a full agreement is close… .
” Text of the legislation reportedly could be filed on Tuesday .
One of the issues holding up the spending package was a disagreement over how to handle $ 12.5 billion in funding for programs that allow certain veterans to get health care outside VA facilities .
Roll Call reports that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy had objected to allowing that funding to be deemed “ emergency ” spending and excluded from agreed-upon spending caps , a plan that appropriators had agreed upon in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the end , negotiators reportedly will keep the funding under the non-defense spending cap and use other accounting maneuvers to offset the cost .
An end to surprise medical bills ?
Long-delayed legislation to protect patients from being hit with “ surprise ” medical bills reportedly could also be rolled into the spending package after key lawmakers struck a bipartisan agreement late Friday on the divisive measure .
You can read more about the details of the agreement here .
The deal could still face hurdles .
“ While House Speaker Nancy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly announced their support for the bipartisan , bicameral legislation , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been conspicuously quiet , ” Vox ’ s Dylan Scott reports .
“ His office has simply told reporters they are reviewing the plan .
And that ’ s a big problem if this deal , breakthrough though it is , is ever going to become law and actually put a stop to most surprise bills.
” Read more at Roll Call or Politico .

House and Senate negotiators are reportedly closing in on an agreement on a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill for fiscal year 2021, which began October 1. The deal would avert a government shutdown after midnight on Friday and provide a legislative vehicle for a potential Covid-relief package and other items left on the lame-duck Congress’ year-end agenda.
Roll Call’s Jennifer Shutt and Paul M. Krawzak report:
“Negotiators have reached compromises on some of the thorniest issues including border wall spending, Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention capacity and funding for veterans health care programs. A handful of smaller items sent to congressional leaders remain to be worked out, but a full agreement is close… .”
Text of the legislation reportedly could be filed on Tuesday.
One of the issues holding up the spending package was a disagreement over how to handle $12.5 billion in funding for programs that allow certain veterans to get health care outside VA facilities. Roll Call reports that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy had objected to allowing that funding to be deemed “emergency” spending and excluded from agreed-upon spending caps, a plan that appropriators had agreed upon in order to avoid other cuts to non-defense programs. In the end, negotiators reportedly will keep the funding under the non-defense spending cap and use other accounting maneuvers to offset the cost.
An end to surprise medical bills? Long-delayed legislation to protect patients from being hit with “surprise” medical bills reportedly could also be rolled into the spending package after key lawmakers struck a bipartisan agreement late Friday on the divisive measure. You can read more about the details of the agreement here.
The deal could still face hurdles. “While House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer quickly announced their support for the bipartisan, bicameral legislation, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been conspicuously quiet,” Vox’s Dylan Scott reports. “His office has simply told reporters they are reviewing the plan. And that’s a big problem if this deal, breakthrough though it is, is ever going to become law and actually put a stop to most surprise bills.”
Read more at Roll Call or Politico.


thefiscaltimes--2020-12-11--Defying Trump, Senate Passes Defense Bill

In defiance of a veto threat from President Trump , the Senate on Friday easily passed the $ 741 billion National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2021 .
Following an overwhelming 335-78 result in the House earlier this week , the Senate ’ s 84-13 vote provides more than the two-thirds majority needed to overcome a veto , should Trump choose to reject the bill .
The president has issued numerous veto threats on the NDAA , which defines spending levels and sets priorities for defense on an annual basis .
Trump has demanded that the bill include a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Decency Act , which some Republicans say allows tech firms to censor conservative voices .
Other provisions , including a requirement that military bases that honor Confederate leaders be renamed , have also been cited by the president as reasons he would issue a veto .
Senate maneuvering : In a rare break with the White House , the bill had the backing of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) , who said he “ would encourage all our colleagues to vote to advance this must-pass bill , ” despite its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the floor for a vote following a delay created by his fellow Kentuckian , Sen. Rand Paul , who protested a provision in the bill that limits the president ’ s ability to remove troops from Afghanistan .
The 13 senators who voted against the bill were split between the parties .
The Republicans were expressing support for the president , according to The New York Times , while the Democrats were protesting the topline spending number .
Three senators — Republicans Lindsey Graham and Mike Rounds , and Democrat Kamala Harris , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The two Republican lawmakers facing runoff elections in Georgia , Sens .
David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler , voted in favor of the bill , raising questions about Trump ’ s support for their reelection campaigns in the weeks ahead .
In an odd twist , support of the bill by Sen. Jim Inhofe ( R-OK ) , chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee , was connected to the recently announced deal that normalized relations between Israel and Morocco .
According to Axios , Inhofe ’ s defiance of Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeal legal protections for tech firms led to the president embracing international agreement , which had been put on hold due to Inhofe ’ s opposition .
What ’ s next : Trump must decide whether to sign or veto the bill .
Should he veto it directly , lawmakers would have to vote again to override the veto , with the House going first .
While the vote this week suggests Congress will have plenty of votes for an override , the outcome is not guaranteed , with some lawmakers likely flipping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political pressure .
Another option is a pocket veto , in which Trump would simply allow the bill to expire unsinged after 10 days ( excluding Sundays ) .
The outcome of that maneuver depends on whether Congress is still in session ; if so , the bill automatically becomes law , but if not , the bill expires .
“ That means , ” said The Washington Post ’ s Karoun Demirjian , “ unless Trump signs the bill into law swiftly , Congress could be forced to stay in session through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of town .
”

In defiance of a veto threat from President Trump, the Senate on Friday easily passed the $741 billion National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2021.
Following an overwhelming 335-78 result in the House earlier this week, the Senate’s 84-13 vote provides more than the two-thirds majority needed to overcome a veto, should Trump choose to reject the bill.
The president has issued numerous veto threats on the NDAA, which defines spending levels and sets priorities for defense on an annual basis. Trump has demanded that the bill include a repeal of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which some Republicans say allows tech firms to censor conservative voices. Other provisions, including a requirement that military bases that honor Confederate leaders be renamed, have also been cited by the president as reasons he would issue a veto.
Senate maneuvering: In a rare break with the White House, the bill had the backing of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who said he “would encourage all our colleagues to vote to advance this must-pass bill,” despite its faults. McConnell brought the bill to the floor for a vote following a delay created by his fellow Kentuckian, Sen. Rand Paul, who protested a provision in the bill that limits the president’s ability to remove troops from Afghanistan.
The 13 senators who voted against the bill were split between the parties. The Republicans were expressing support for the president, according to The New York Times, while the Democrats were protesting the topline spending number. Three senators — Republicans Lindsey Graham and Mike Rounds, and Democrat Kamala Harris, the vice president-elect — did not vote. The two Republican lawmakers facing runoff elections in Georgia, Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, voted in favor of the bill, raising questions about Trump’s support for their reelection campaigns in the weeks ahead.
In an odd twist, support of the bill by Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was connected to the recently announced deal that normalized relations between Israel and Morocco. According to Axios, Inhofe’s defiance of Trump’s demand to use the NDAA to repeal legal protections for tech firms led to the president embracing international agreement, which had been put on hold due to Inhofe’s opposition.
What’s next: Trump must decide whether to sign or veto the bill. Should he veto it directly, lawmakers would have to vote again to override the veto, with the House going first. While the vote this week suggests Congress will have plenty of votes for an override, the outcome is not guaranteed, with some lawmakers likely flipping one way or another in response to political pressure.
Another option is a pocket veto, in which Trump would simply allow the bill to expire unsinged after 10 days (excluding Sundays). The outcome of that maneuver depends on whether Congress is still in session; if so, the bill automatically becomes law, but if not, the bill expires. “That means,” said The Washington Post’s Karoun Demirjian, “unless Trump signs the bill into law swiftly, Congress could be forced to stay in session through Christmas, when lawmakers are usually out of town.”


thefiscaltimes--2020-12-16--Pelosi, McConnell Meet to Break Stimulus Stalemate

The months-long stalemate over another coronavirus relief package may finally be coming to an end .
Congressional leaders met for an hour Tuesday afternoon and said they will be meeting again tonight to continue their talks on Covid-19 relief and an omnibus year-end spending bill .
“ We ’ re still talking to each other and I think there ’ s an agreement that we ’ re not going to leave here without the [ spending bill ] and the Covid package , ” McConnell said after the meeting , according to The Washington Post .
“ We ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can agree.
” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) had invited McConnell , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to meet today as they try to finalize a compromise on the virus aid plan and a spending bill needed before funding for the federal government runs out after Friday .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin reportedly joined by phone after speaking with Pelosi for more than an hour earlier in the day .
The signs of progress come after a bipartisan group of lawmakers led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and Joe Manchin ( D-WV ) released a $ 908 billion proposal split into two bills — one a $ 748 billion package covering unemployment benefits , small business aid and a host of other provisions with broad bipartisan support and the other including $ 160 billion in state and local aid with legal liability protections for businesses .
The second bill pairs the provisions that have proven to be most contentious throughout months of talks .
McConnell on Tuesday again called on lawmakers to move forward on the areas where they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state and local governments and the liability shield .
“ We all know the new administration is going to be asking for yet another package , ” McConnell said .
“ It ’ s not like we won ’ t have another opportunity to debate the merits of liability reform and state and local government in the very near future.
” The bottom line : This is the first time in months that congressional leaders have met in person to try to work out a deal , but there ’ s still plenty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post reports , for example , that “ people close to negotiations believe state and local aid appears likely to fall by the wayside as lawmakers move closer to a final agreement.
” And it ’ s not clear yet whether another round of stimulus checks might still be added to the package , as some lawmakers have proposed .
The next 24 hours will determine a lot .

The months-long stalemate over another coronavirus relief package may finally be coming to an end.
Congressional leaders met for an hour Tuesday afternoon and said they will be meeting again tonight to continue their talks on Covid-19 relief and an omnibus year-end spending bill.
“We’re still talking to each other and I think there’s an agreement that we’re not going to leave here without the [spending bill] and the Covid package,” McConnell said after the meeting, according to The Washington Post. “We’ll get an agreement as soon as we can agree.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) had invited McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to meet today as they try to finalize a compromise on the virus aid plan and a spending bill needed before funding for the federal government runs out after Friday. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin reportedly joined by phone after speaking with Pelosi for more than an hour earlier in the day.
The signs of progress come after a bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Sens. Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) released a $908 billion proposal split into two bills — one a $748 billion package covering unemployment benefits, small business aid and a host of other provisions with broad bipartisan support and the other including $160 billion in state and local aid with legal liability protections for businesses. The second bill pairs the provisions that have proven to be most contentious throughout months of talks.
McConnell on Tuesday again called on lawmakers to move forward on the areas where they agree and set aside the aid for state and local governments and the liability shield. “We all know the new administration is going to be asking for yet another package,” McConnell said. “It’s not like we won’t have another opportunity to debate the merits of liability reform and state and local government in the very near future.”
The bottom line: This is the first time in months that congressional leaders have met in person to try to work out a deal, but there’s still plenty of wrangling to be done. The Post reports, for example, that “people close to negotiations believe state and local aid appears likely to fall by the wayside as lawmakers move closer to a final agreement.” And it’s not clear yet whether another round of stimulus checks might still be added to the package, as some lawmakers have proposed. The next 24 hours will determine a lot.


thefiscaltimes--2020-12-15--Trump Cites Another Reason He’ll Veto Defense Bill

President Trump has repeatedly threatened to veto the $ 741 billion National Defense Authorization Act , demanding that it be revised to include a repeal of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act , which some Republicans say allows tech firms like Facebook and Twitter to censor conservative voices .
Trump has cited other causes of concern , too , including the renaming of military bases that honor Confederate leaders and new restrictions on his ability to remove troops from Afghanistan .
On Sunday , he added another reason to the list : “ The biggest winner of our new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ veto !
” The president has until December 23 to decide what to do with the bill , which Congress passed with substantial majorities last week .
Should he issue a veto , some lawmakers have vowed to override it .
“ This latest veto threat is further proof that he cares more about himself than our troops and the safety of the American people , ” Sen. Jack Reed ( D-RI ) said of Trump in a statement Sunday .
“ Now Congress must come together on a bipartisan basis and override @ @ @ @ @ @ @ common defense .
”

President Trump has repeatedly threatened to veto the $741 billion National Defense Authorization Act, demanding that it be revised to include a repeal of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which some Republicans say allows tech firms like Facebook and Twitter to censor conservative voices.
Trump has cited other causes of concern, too, including the renaming of military bases that honor Confederate leaders and new restrictions on his ability to remove troops from Afghanistan. On Sunday, he added another reason to the list: “The biggest winner of our new defense bill is China! I will veto!”
The president has until December 23 to decide what to do with the bill, which Congress passed with substantial majorities last week.
Should he issue a veto, some lawmakers have vowed to override it.
“This latest veto threat is further proof that he cares more about himself than our troops and the safety of the American people,” Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) said of Trump in a statement Sunday. “Now Congress must come together on a bipartisan basis and override this senseless veto and provide for the common defense.”


thefiscaltimes--2020-12-14--Lawmakers Unveil $908 Billion Coronavirus Relief Package Split Into Two Bills

A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Monday unveiled the details of their $ 908 billion plan to provide emergency relief for the U.S. economy .
Speaking at a press conference in Washington , Sen. Joe Manchin ( D-WV ) dropped two bills onto the podium , one outlining a wide range of relief spending totaling $ 748 billion and another that combines $ 160 billion in state and local government funding with Covid-related liability protections for businesses , schools and other organizations .
The larger bill , which has unanimous backing from the group of lawmakers , includes : • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week for 16 weeks ; • $ 300 billion for small business loans and grants through the Paycheck Protection Program ; • an extension of the eviction moratorium until January 31 ; The second bill contains the more controversial issues that still divide the negotiators , largely along partisan lines .
It includes a formula and timetable for the dispersal of $ 152 billion in aid for state and local governments , along with $ 8 billion for native American populations .
And it provides legal protection for organizations and standards for lawsuits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The group divided the bills to make it possible to jettison the controversial elements while still moving ahead with the bulk of the relief spending .
What ’ s not in the bill : The package does not include direct payments , an idea that is popular with most Americans and a handful of lawmakers , including Sens .
Josh Hawley ( R-MO ) and Bernie Sanders ( I-VT ) .
“ Congress can not go home for the Christmas holidays until we pass legislation which provides a $ 1,200 direct payment to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couples and a $ 500 payment to their children , ” Sanders said Monday .
Sanders urged Democratic leaders to reject any deal that fails to include individual payments .
And he criticized the relatively small size of the bipartisan proposal , which relies largely on unused funds from an earlier relief effort .
“ What kind of negotiation is it when you go from $ 3.4 trillion to $ 188 billion in new money ?
That is not a negotiation .
That is a collapse , ” Sanders told Politico .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the bills are ready for a vote , it ’ s up to leaders in the House and Senate to move the package forward .
“ Now it 's up to the leadership to take it , and make this happen on a timely basis , '' Manchin said .
Much depends on whether congressional leaders are willing to embrace money state and local governments and liability protections for businesses — or leave them both behind .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) spoke about the need for additional Covid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days are going to bring about one of two outcomes , ” McConnell said .
“ Either 100 senators will be here shaking our heads , slinging blame and offering excuses about why we still have not been able to make a law .
.
.
or we will break for the holidays having sent another huge dose of relief out the door for the people who need it.
” McConnell did not mention the bipartisan proposal directly .

A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Monday unveiled the details of their $908 billion plan to provide emergency relief for the U.S. economy.
Speaking at a press conference in Washington, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) dropped two bills onto the podium, one outlining a wide range of relief spending totaling $748 billion and another that combines $160 billion in state and local government funding with Covid-related liability protections for businesses, schools and other organizations.
The larger bill, which has unanimous backing from the group of lawmakers, includes:
enhanced unemployment benefits of $300 per week for 16 weeks;
an extension of emergency unemployment assistance programs;
$300 billion for small business loans and grants through the Paycheck Protection Program;
$82 billion for education, including $54 billion for K-12;
$45 billion for transportation, including airlines and public transport;
$35 billion for health care providers;
$25 billion for rental assistance;
an extension of the eviction moratorium until January 31;
$16 billion for testing, tracing and vaccine distribution;
$13 billion for food assistance;
$13 billion for farmers, ranchers and fisheries;
$10 billion for broadband;
student loan forbearance extended until April 1, 2021.
The second bill contains the more controversial issues that still divide the negotiators, largely along partisan lines. It includes a formula and timetable for the dispersal of $152 billion in aid for state and local governments, along with $8 billion for native American populations. And it provides legal protection for organizations and standards for lawsuits in the wake of the pandemic.
The group divided the bills to make it possible to jettison the controversial elements while still moving ahead with the bulk of the relief spending.
What’s not in the bill: The package does not include direct payments, an idea that is popular with most Americans and a handful of lawmakers, including Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
“Congress cannot go home for the Christmas holidays until we pass legislation which provides a $1,200 direct payment to working class adults, $2,400 for couples and a $500 payment to their children,” Sanders said Monday.
Sanders urged Democratic leaders to reject any deal that fails to include individual payments. And he criticized the relatively small size of the bipartisan proposal, which relies largely on unused funds from an earlier relief effort. “What kind of negotiation is it when you go from $3.4 trillion to $188 billion in new money? That is not a negotiation. That is a collapse,” Sanders told Politico.
What’s next: While the lawmakers said the bills are ready for a vote, it’s up to leaders in the House and Senate to move the package forward. “Now it's up to the leadership to take it, and make this happen on a timely basis," Manchin said.
Much depends on whether congressional leaders are willing to embrace money state and local governments and liability protections for businesses — or leave them both behind.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) spoke about the need for additional Covid relief Monday. “The next several days are going to bring about one of two outcomes,” McConnell said. “Either 100 senators will be here shaking our heads, slinging blame and offering excuses about why we still have not been able to make a law . . . or we will break for the holidays having sent another huge dose of relief out the door for the people who need it.”
McConnell did not mention the bipartisan proposal directly.