Biden: "A lot of folks are losing hope … So I'm going to act and I'm going to act fast. I would like to be doing it with the support of Republicans … but they're just not willing to go as far as we have to go." pic.twitter.com/b1XSW5BgJU
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 5, 2021
Biden's covid relief package is one step closer to reality as House passes budget measure https://t.co/nM859SzbRp
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) February 5, 2021
President Biden on Friday sent his strongest message yet that he intends to move forward on his economic relief plan without Republican support, as the House gave final approval to a budget bill that will allow him to do just that.
The House voted 219-209 to approve the budget plan, which the Senate had already passed early Friday morning, beginning the process of turning Biden’s stimulus proposal into legislation. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Friday she aims to pass Biden’s stimulus plan through the House within two weeks…
Biden’s declaration that he will not wait for Republicans represents a pivotal moment in his presidency, given his pledges restore bipartisanship to Washington. Biden spent 40 years shaping a political identity as a figure who reaches across the aisle — often attracting mockery or derision for it — and he campaigned on pulling the country together after the divisiveness of the Trump era…
“I see enormous pain in this country. A lot of folks out of work. A lot of folks going hungry, staring at the ceiling at night wondering, ‘What am I going to do tomorrow?’ ” Biden said. “So I’m going to act, and I’m going to act fast.”…
… Democrats have been rushing the stimulus package through, in part, because tens of millions of Americans would begin to lose federal unemployment benefits under existing law in mid-March.
Biden on Friday hosted House Democratic leaders, including Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.), at the White House to make the case for swiftly passing the relief effort. He also cited increases in suicides, drug abuse and violence against women during the pandemic.
Pelosi also told House Democrats in a letter Friday that they aim to “finish our work” on the relief package before the end of February. Asked if she could guarantee the legislation would be passed before unemployment aid expires for millions of Americans in mid-March, Pelosi said: “Absolutely. Without any question. Before then.”
“Hopefully in a two-week period of time, we will send something over to the Senate,” Pelosi said, flanked by the Democratic committee chairs. “We hope to be able to put vaccines in people’s arms; money in people’s pockets; children safely in schools; and workers in their jobs.”…
"He didn't run on a promise to unite the Democratic and Republican parties into one party" ?? pic.twitter.com/9AzSugxKZD
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 5, 2021
Reporters are so mad Dems have message discipline https://t.co/avlEZ6bcQw
— California Man (@MoonbeamSpecial) February 6, 2021
Saturday Morning Open Thread: Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the WayPost + Comments (305)