The White House said it is not seeking to divide President Biden’s new $1.9 trillion coronavirus package into “piecemeal” packages amid growing opposition from Republicans and centrist Democrats over the cost of the bill.
“The needs of the American people are urgent,” including on vaccine distribution and food aid, and “aren’t partisan issues,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a tweet Thursday. “We aren’t looking to split a package in two.”
Some Democrats argue that dividing the bill will make it easier to secure bipartisan support for some portion of it.
Biden’s chief economic adviser, Brian Deese, and coronavirus czar, Jeff Zients, are scheduled to call into Democrats’ Senate lunch later Thursday.
Deese tweeted Thursday: “The needs of the American people aren’t partial; we can’t do this piecemeal.”
The pushback followed one media report that claimed White House aides were discussing an acceptable bipartisan package, removing some provisions for a separate Democrat-only bill.
Bipartisan support is a priority for Biden, whose pitch for “unity” was a core tenet of his inaugural address. But his $1.9 trillion coronavirus package is unlikely to secure the 60 votes needed to pass in the Senate without changes.
“Here in the Senate, we want that work to be bipartisan. But if our Republican colleagues decide to oppose the necessary, robust COVID relief, we will have to move forward without them,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Wednesday. “It is not our preference, but dealing with this crisis in a bold and sufficient way is a necessity.”
Centrist Democrats and Republicans in the Senate have blanched at the $1.9 trillion cost of Biden’s bill, favoring a more targeted plan focused on targeted relief and vaccine distribution.
Liberal Democrats favor a much larger bill.
Top White House aides have held dozens of meetings with lawmakers and other constituent groups in a bid to reach the 60-vote threshold needed for passage in the Senate.
If they can’t secure the votes, Democrats say they will pass the bill without Republican support using a procedural tool called budget reconciliation that requires a simple majority.
Some reports suggest that the White House is open to splitting the $1.9 trillion package into two, ensuring that one part can secure 60 bipartisan votes, likely trimming aid for states, unemployment insurance, and some vaccine distribution aid. Direct payments would be targeted.
Provisions cut from the bill would then be added to the president’s “Build Back Better” plan to be passed later through reconciliation.
Two longtime Biden aides, White House counselor Steve Ricchetti and Legislative Affairs Director Louisa Terrell, are “quarterbacking” the effort, according to Psaki.
A bipartisan group of 16 lawmakers met Wednesday to discuss the package, amid reports that centrist members have been dissatisfied by the administration’s outreach.
