Top Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill appeared to be nearing a compromise that would include both another round of direct stimulus payments to Americans and additional unemployment benefits, according to others familiar with the emerging plan who also described it on the condition of anonymity.
While the details were not yet final, the package was also expected to provide billions of dollars for vaccine distribution and support for schools and small businesses, but omit coronavirus liability protections long sought by Republicans and a dedicated funding stream for state and local governments insisted upon by Democrats — the two most contentious sticking points.
Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Republican, told reporters on Wednesday that the direct payments were likely to be $600 to $700 per person, about half the size of the checks included in the $2.2 trillion stimulus law enacted in March, which Democrats and some Republicans had pushed to replicate or exceed.
“Right now we’re going to do our best to get the $1,200, but this is a good start,” said Senator Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent who joined forces with Senator Josh Hawley, Republican of Missouri, to lobby for the inclusion of the payments.
Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky and one of the fiercest opponents of government spending, said on Wednesday that he “will make a point to let people know that they’re giving away money they don’t have” but “won’t object to the time that it takes to do this.”
Source Article from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/16/us/mcconnell-tells-republicans-that-georgias-senators-were-getting-hammered-for-congresss-failure-to-act.html
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