Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urged fellow Democrats to reject a new round of federal coronavirus aid proposed by Republicans because of a provision providing lawsuit liability to businesses, schools, and healthcare facilities.
Schumer, a New York Democrat, said in a letter to Democrats that he has learned about the GOP proposal from press reports, and it includes “a sweeping new multi-sector corporate immunity proposal that would have the federal government preempt the laws of all 50 states and grant legal immunity to negligent corporations, nursing homes or others that fail to take reasonable steps to avoid spreading the virus.”
Republicans are working on an aid package that includes lawsuit liability protections that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said must be part of any new round of federal relief.
McConnell said the liability shield is needed to help the economy fully reopen and to give businesses and other entities the confidence to operate without fear of virus-related lawsuits as long as they are following health department guidelines.
The House and Senate are in session together for the next two weeks and are aiming to pass a new round of economic aid that responds to the continuing impact of the virus.
But Democrats are preparing to reject the GOP’s opening bid.
Schumer, in a letter to fellow Democrats Monday, said the GOP proposal is a “one-party approach” that elevates corporate interests over workers and families.
Democrats support a $3 trillion measure the House passed in May that would provide new economic relief to individuals, money for states and local governments, hazard pay for workers, and a bailout for state pension plans and the U.S. Post Office. The House bill, passed by all Democrats and one Republican, would also extend unemployment insurance.
Schumer urged Democrats to stick together to block the GOP bill from passing the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to advance legislation. He reminded Democrats of the changes the GOP was forced to make to augment previous aid packages. Democrats stuck together in opposition to a March coronavirus relief measure after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, jumped into the negotiations between the White House and Senate Democrats and began making demands.
“The Congressional Budget Office estimates the unemployment rate will remain distressingly high for many more years. Unfortunately, by all accounts the Senate Republicans are drafting legislation that comes up short in a number of vital areas, such as extending unemployment benefits or funding for rental assistance, hazard premium pay for frontline workers, or investments in communities of color being ravaged by the virus, and many other necessary provisions,” Schumer said.
