Ahead of President Joe Biden’s Monday evening meeting with GOP senators to discuss watering down his Covid-19 relief proposal, congressional Democratic leaders took the first step toward passing a bolder pandemic aid package through a process that would not require any Republican support.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) filed a joint budget resolution for Fiscal Year 2021 giving Congress an additional tool to pass relief legislation enacting Biden’s American Rescue Plan—a $1.9 trillion proposal he unveiled before taking office last month.
If both chambers pass the budget resolution, lawmakers can work on a reconciliation bill that can’t be blocked by a filibuster so only needs majority support to get to Biden’s desk.
Read more at Common Dreams.