Reshaping President Biden’s $1.9 Trillion COVID-19 Relief Package

Senate Majority Leader Schumer said he aims to secure passage of the next round of Covid-19 relief by mid-March, just when jobless benefits from the previous package will run out. While some Republicans are rejecting the price tag of the $1.9 trillion bill proposed by the President, Biden said he was open to negotiations.  Yesterday Biden stated that “time is of the essence and I must tell you I’m reluctant to cherry pick and take out one or two items here.”  The process is just beginning and President Biden held a call on the stimulus proposal with 16 senators from both sides of the aisle, along with leaders of a group of House centrists.  Finally, there are some Democrats who have raised questions about the package’s proposed size.