After a ‘cordial’ meeting with Republicans — where they tried to cut the Democrat’s $1.9Trillion Stimulus package — President Biden dismissed their $600 billion bailout package as ‘too small’ (basically a third of what the House Democrats had asked for.)
Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine called it a ‘productive cordial two-hour meeting’ with the president. Then she noted that they hadn’t come to an agreement on a deal, but technically the Biden administration doesn’t need the Republican’s support to pass the bill.
Referred to as ‘reconciliation,’ the legislative process was instituted by House Dems after it was clear the Republicans weren’t going to compromise.
House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement. ‘The President also made clear that the American Rescue Plan was carefully designed to meet the stakes of this moment, and any changes in it cannot leave the nation short of its pressing needs.’
‘He reiterated, however, that he will not slow down work on this urgent crisis response, and will not settle for a package that fails to meet the moment,’ she added.