Democrats slam the GOP's 'emaciated' $500 billion stimulus plan that would cut unemployment benefits and leave out rental assistance and state aid
- Democrats are tearing into the GOP's $500 billion stimulus plan, saying its "emaciated" since it leaves out a host of economic relief measures.
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the plan for omitting aid to states, as well as rental assistance for evicted people.
- "The crisis and the pain of the American people in the pandemic get greater and greater, and Republicans keep thinking smaller and smaller," Schumer said
- The GOP unveiled a plan on Monday that would cut unemployment benefits to $300 a week and leave out direct payments to individuals.
Democrats slammed the GOP's $500 billion stimulus plan on Wednesday, calling it "emaciated" since it would leave out aid to states and rental assistance.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on CNN that Democrats are not caving to Republicans
"There's a good chance they feel the pressure once they see the Democrats are not going to fold to this emaciated bill, which leaves so much out," he said. "The pressure will mount on them."
The New York senator criticized the plan for not including aid to cash-strapped states confronting significant revenue shortfalls in the near-future. He also ripped into the proposal for leaving out rent relief for evicted people and food assistance for children.
"The crisis and the pain of the American people in the pandemic get greater and greater, and Republicans keep thinking smaller and smaller," Schumer said. "And the reason is very simple -- there are 20 Republicans in the Senate who want no money, so McConnell had to, in a very cynical exercise, put together something that would check the box, but left out so much.
A day earlier, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Bloomberg the proposal wasn't "even an attempt to do the right thing."
The GOP unveiled a $500 billion plan on Tuesday that included another round of aid to small businesses and a $300 federal supplement to state unemployment benefits — a 50% cut from the $600 payout that expired in late July. The upper chamber is expected to hold a procedural vote on measure Thursday.
The Senate GOP's plan is also smaller compared to the $1 trillion plan they introduced in July. It was never brought to a vote due to opposition among many of their members.
Meanwhile, Democrats have long championed their $3.4 trillion economic relief package that the House passed in May. It included aid to states, a second round of direct payments, and $100 billion in rental assistance among other priorities.
Talks between top congressional Democrats and the White House collapsed last month amid fierce disagreements on state aid and unemployment insurance. Democrats said they could sign onto $2.2 trillion in additional spending, but the Trump administration rejected that amount.
After negotiations fell through, the White House moved ahead in early August with a series of executive orders to boost unemployment benefits and enact a controversial payroll tax holiday. It also recently enacted an eviction moratorium through the end of the year.