The Senate will vote on a House measure to provide more than $100 billion to respond to the coronavirus, despite objections from GOP lawmakers who oppose paid leave provisions.
“With regard to the bill that came over from the House, there was some discussion about whether to amendment that with a bigger proposal, because we all know a bigger proposal is necessary,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, told reporters Tuesday. “But I’ve decided we are going to go on and vote” on the measure.
Recommended Stories
McConnell is rejecting calls to amend the legislation to aid small businesses, which may be unable to afford the paid sick leave mandated in the bill for those that employ more than 50 people.
Instead, lawmakers will write a third, much larger stimulus measure that will include aid to small businesses, likely in the form of low-interest loans.
Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana is among a group of Republicans that remains opposed to the House bill. Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, has urged the conference to make changes. Others are also unhappy with the legislation.
“I think the House bill right now falls short of helping small-business people,” Sen. John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, said.
McConnell advised Republicans who object to the bill to “gag and vote for it anyway.”
McConnell said it is important for the Senate to clear the House bill for President Trump’s signature to show the public Congress is acting to help reduce the economic destruction now being caused by the virus and near-quarantine of most of the public.
The measure would provide expanded unemployment insurance and 10 days of paid sick leave for some workers.
The Senate GOP is working on a much larger stimulus package that could provide direct cash payments to some adult workers, money for the impacted airline industry, and loans for small businesses.
