Negotiations between the White House and Congress resumed this week after a pause that preceded the November presidential election.
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin submitted a $ 916 billion aid package proposal, which includes a $ 600 aid check for citizens, a proposal the Democratic Party believes insufficient.
Negotiations were postponed again on Thursday
due to a lack of agreements on funding from the federal government, which is being negotiated at the same time, and on protections against lawsuits related to the coronavirus and resources for state and local governments within the stimulus plan, according to CNBC.
[
Democrats ask to include a check for $ 1,200 for COVID-19
Meanwhile, Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell reported that Republicans will not support a $ 908 billion bipartisan proposal presented to the Upper House, which strengthens unemployment benefits.
Reaching an agreement for the economic stimulus is urgent given that, the day after Christmas,
12 million people could lose their unemployment benefits
.
In addition, the suspension of evictions expires at the end of the year, which could affect thousands of people who have not been able to pay their rent due to the economic crisis.
We describe some of the points that each proposal contains.
One of the economic stimulus checks issued to Americans to address the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
What does the White House propose?
The White House's $ 916 billion proposal prioritizes the direct delivery of a one-time check for $ 600, rather than expanding the resources of federal unemployment benefits.
"By sending checks, we are putting money into the economy for people. This will have the impact of creating demand, which will boost job creation," Mnuchin said Wednesday.
The proposal includes:
A one-time
economic stimulus check of $ 600
for adult citizens, plus $ 500 for each child, similar to a check for $ 1,200.
Funds to distribute COVID-19 vaccines.
Revive the
Payment Protection Program
.
Congress Considers Extending Unemployment Benefit Aid for 16 More Weeks
Dec. 9, 202002: 09
What does the bipartisan proposal include?
A group of Democratic and Republican senators unveiled a
$ 908 billion aid package
project on Wednesday
.
Although the complete legislative text has not been published, The Washington Post reported that the legislation contains the priorities of the leaders of each party, as well as those of the president-elect, Democrat Joe Biden.
The legislation includes resources for small businesses and business protection against lawsuits related to the coronavirus, two points of interest of the Republican Party.
On the other hand, it includes resources for the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.
[Unemployment benefit requests grow again but aid runs out and the pandemic continues to worsen]
Biden said last Thursday that the aid package “would be better if it included [the check for] $ 1,200.” However, to ensure continued unemployment benefits, the proposal eliminated resources for a new economic stimulus check.
The bipartisan legislation also does not renew the moratorium on evictions, though it will grant funds to homeowners to prevent evictions, according to The Washington Post.
The proposal contemplates:
Unemployment benefits of
$ 300 a week for four months
.
$ 160 billion for state and local government institutions to retain their current staff.
$ 300 billion to support small businesses
, as well as $ 160 billion for state and local aid.
Short-term federal protection against coronavirus-related lawsuits to give states time to develop their own response.
$ 16 billion for the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as for diagnostic tests and contact tracing.
45,000 million to support the transportation industry.
With information from CNBC, CNN, Politico, The Washington Post.
