Sen. Bernie Sanders has on Monday, slammed Democratic officials for getting behind a little $908 billion COVID-19 relief package after rejecting a $1.8 trillion proposal presented by President Donald Trump in October.
Sen. Sanders’ statement clearly contradicts the Democratic claim that Republicans are responsible for not allowing the coronavirus relief get through to Americans.
While on an interview, CNN host Jake Tapper asked Sanders whether it was a mistake for Democrats to walk away from the White House’s $1.8 trillion bill which would’ve included $1,200 direct payments to all Americans when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was proposing a $2.2 trillion bill then.
In response, Sanders said, “That’s right… That’s what I’m saying.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders concedes, “that’s right,” Democrats blocked coronavirus reliefhttps://t.co/4uzdBivJZO pic.twitter.com/TnzkzNtsSk
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 7, 2020
“What we need is a compromise. I know I can’t get everything that I want. But this bill really is not a compromise. It gives the Republicans almost everything that they wanted,” Sanders said referring to a $908 billion stimulus package a bipartisan group of senators came up with last week.
In the new bill, there is $300 billion allocated to funding small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program, then, $240 billion in aid for state and local governments, $180 billion to extend boosted unemployment benefits at $300 per week for four months.
There’s also a temporary moratorium on COVID-19 liability lawsuits to allow states time to come up with their own laws. But it doesn’t include a second stimulus check.
Sen. Sanders also noted that some of the funds that are included in the new bill come from unused Cares Act funds.
“Democrats talked about over $3 trillion in new money to help working families in this country, so I don’t think this is much of a compromise. I think we have got to do a lot better and negotiate a lot harder.
“We are, right now, in the worst economic shape since the Great Depression, and this proposal does not include that $1,200 direct payment per individual and $500 for kids that we desperately need in order to put working families back on their feet. It would be a real help. We don’t have it and I’m going to fight to see we get that included,” Sanders said.
