The $1.8 billion plan is on the table; but will the Democrats accept it? Although talks between the White House and the Democrats in the House of Representatives continue, the latter do not seem to be convinced by President Donald Trump’s new $1.8 billion proposal.
This Friday, the Trump administration launched its offer to the Democrats, led by Nancy Pelosi.
This is the highest figure publicly mentioned by the Republicans.
Democrats are betting at least $2.2 billion in funding. The president came out Friday with the figure updated from the $1.6 billion proposal earlier this week.
The legislative “tug-of-war” has been complicated in recent days by pro- and anti-Trump expressions about the viability of the stimulus package, as well as announcements that it has been withdrawn from the negotiating table and then returned.
As obstacles to progress, Democrats are now raising – beyond the total amount of money that would be allocated – the lack of a comprehensive strategy for testing and tracking COVID-19 cases.
Although the contents of Trump’s new bill have not been formally released, two sources familiar with the plan revealed some of its provisions to The Washington Post.
What does the draft include?
The draft is supposed to include $1,200 checks for individuals and an extra $1,000 per dependent.
A $400 weekly unemployment extension is another part of the proposal, although the length of the benefit is unclear.
Under the legislation being pushed by Trump, $300 billion in funding would also be available to states and local governments, as well as $75 billion for coronavirus testing and contact tracing.
The project would redirect nearly $400 billion in unused recovery funds to make up for all of the money required.
Invoking the 25th Amendment
In the midst of all this discussion, Pelosi seems to be focusing her attention on other issues such as the 25th Amendment in case Trump is unable to govern due to COVID-19 and ensuring the orderly transfer of power.
The bill seeks to establish a 16-member commission, half Republican and half Democratic, which would be activated in the event of such an emergency to choose an interim or permanent replacement.
The fact that there are some 25 days left before the presidential election leaves practically no space to advance an initiative of this type, so it is not clear what Pelosi wants to achieve with her reference.
The announcement of the legislative bill was made after the spokesperson for the majority in the House suggested that Trump is not fit to remain in power due to the contagion.
“The president is in a state of, let’s say, disarray right now,” Pelosi told Bloomberg on Thursday. “I don’t know what to attribute that behavior to,” she added.
She added that “some people say that if you’re on steroids or have COVID-19 it can affect your judgment.