Date: 2024-12-21 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00019262
US Politics
Respnse to Covid 19
the differences between the Democratic and Republican stimulus bills
Peter Burgess
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Date: 2024-12-21 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00019262 | |||||||||
US Politics | |||||||||
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Burgess COMMENTARY Peter Burgess | |||||||||
| Here are the differences between the Democratic and Republican stimulus bills senate republicans white house proposal stimulus plan pkg mattingly nr vpx_00010916 Washington (CNN)Senate Republicans formally unveiled a roughly $1 trillion stimulus proposal this week, offering a starting point for negotiations with Democrats over what will likely become Congress's last major economic response to the pandemic. The $600 federal boost to unemployment benefits expires July 31, but millions of people are already receiving their last checks. Democrats, who control the House, are unified behind a far bigger and different proposal. They passed their own $3 trillion stimulus bill in May. Republicans will need support from Democrats to get a bill on the President's desk and the two sides are starting far apart. Here are some of the key differences between the two bills: Direct stimulus payments SENATE REPUBLICANS The bill includes a second round of direct stimulus payments worth up to $1,200 for individuals and $2,400 for families. It would send an additional $500 per dependent, regardless of their age. The first round excluded dependents who were older than 17. The size of the payments would again scale down -- starting with individuals who earn more than $75,000 a year and married couples who earn more than $150,00 -- and phase out all-together for higher income individuals. HOUSE DEMOCRATS The bill provides for a second round of stimulus payments that would be more generous than the first. It calls for $1,200 per family member, and maxes out at $6,000 per household. The size of the payments would again scale down -- starting with individuals who earn more than $75,000 a year and married couples who earn more than $150,00 -- and phase out all-together for higher income individuals. Unemployment benefits SENATE REPUBLICANS The proposal would extend the federal boost to unemployment benefits, but at a reduced amount. It calls for cutting the weekly payment to $200, from $600, until states implement a system that replaces roughly 70% of laid-off workers wages. The $200 supplement would expire Dec. 31. HOUSE DEMOCRATS The bill would extend the $600 enhanced unemployment benefit through January. Those receiving regular state benefits at that time could continue receiving the $600 boost as late as the end of March. It would also extend two other pandemic unemployment assistance programs into early next year. Money for small businesses SENATE REPUBLICANS The bill would allow some small businesses to apply for a second loan from the Paycheck Protection Program. But it’s limited to those with fewer than 300 employees that have lost at least 50% of their revenue during the first or second quarter of this year. It reduces the amount a borrower can receive from $10 million to $2 million and gives businesses more flexibility on how they spend the money. The bill also creates a separate low-interest, long-term loan program for seasonal businesses or those in low-income communities. They must have fewer than 500 employees that have lost at least 50% of revenue during the first or second quarter of this year. HOUSE DEMOCRATS The House bill didn't include additional money for the Paycheck Protection Program, but some Democrats have said they'd support expanding the program now that applications have slowed. The Democrats' bill included $10 billion for a separate loan program for small businesses, known as Economic Injury Disaster Loans. The program ran out of money last week, using up all $20 billion already allocated by Congress for advance loans. Education funding SENATE REPUBLICANS The bill calls for $105 billion in education funds. About $70 billion of that would go to K-12 schools and $30 billion for colleges and universities. Of that pot, one-third would be distributed automatically to all districts and two-thirds would go to schools that are reopening for in-person instruction. The remaining $5 billion would go to governors who would decide how to spend the money. HOUSE DEMOCRATS The bill would provide $100 billion in education funds, of which $90 billion would go to states to be split between K-12 and higher education. It specifies that 65%, or $59 billion, would go to K-12 schools and 30% would go to higher education. The remaining $10 billion is allocated for colleges and students. Liability protections SENATE REPUBLICANS The bill calls for liability protections that would create a safe harbor for businesses, schools, health care providers and non-profits to prevent people from suing if they contracted COVID in their facilities. HOUSE DEMOCRATS Democrats have opposed liability protections. Instead, they want to require new regulations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that would have employers create new plans to protect workers from exposure to COVID. State and local funding SENATE REPUBLICANS The bill doesn’t include additional funding for states or cities, but gives them more flexibility to use some of the $150 billion allocated in the CARES Act for revenue shortfalls. HOUSE DEMOCRATS The bill provides $500 billion to states and $375 billion to local governments, which they can use to address budget shortfalls due to lost tax revenue or to pay for coronavirus-related expenses. CNN's Phil Mattingly contributed to this report. Now PlayingSenate GOP split with... Teacher shares an emotional warning on schools reopening Coronavirus Close Up What went wrong in Washington after reopening bill gates 7.23 Bill Gates: US infection rate is deeply troubling Mask test study wellness_00012808.jpg See how layered masks affect spread of Covid-19 He battled Covid-19 for 128 days. Here's what he wants you to know WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 19: U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos listens during a cabinet meeting in the East Room of the White House on May 19, 2020 in Washington, DC. Earlier in the day President Trump met with members of the Senate GOP. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Keilar: Here's the catch on DeVos' claim on kids and Covid-19 Monete hicks Mom who lost two kids to Covid-19: Take this seriously President Donald Trump looks on as Dr. Deborah Birx speaks about the coronavirus outbreak in the press briefing room at the White House on March 17, 2020. Birx issues Covid-19 warning as Trump paints rosier picture senate republicans white house proposal stimulus plan pkg mattingly nr vpx_00010916.jpgNOW PLAYING Senate GOP split with WH over elements of stimulus plan Here's what Fauci thinks about the latest vaccine trial SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 13: A nurse wearing protective clothing emerges from a tent a a coronavirus testing center at the University of Washington Medical center on March 13, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. UW Medical staff feeling potential symptoms of COVID-19 were asked to pass through a drive-through screening center on campus for testing. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) How Covid-19 numbers are looking across the country They created a community of Covid-19 'long haulers' EL CENTRO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 21: Clinicians care for a COVID-19 patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at El Centro Regional Medical Center in hard-hit Imperial County on July 21, 2020 in El Centro, California. Imperial County currently suffers from the highest death rate and near-highest infection rate from COVID-19 in California. The rural county, which is 85 percent Latino, borders Mexico and Arizona and endures high poverty rates and air pollution while also being medically underserved. In California, Latinos make up about 39 percent of the population but account for 55 percent of confirmed coronavirus cases amid the pandemic. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) California reports highest number of single-day Covid-19 deaths Doctor describes trying to revive patient in parking lot dr anthony fauci peter navarro white house coronavirus atlantic sot nr vpx_00001829 Fauci: Hate mail and threats made against me because of Covid-19 texas boys with covid-19 ebof vpx Parents describe dealing with two Covid-19 positive sons Teacher shares an emotional warning on schools reopening Coronavirus Close Up What went wrong in Washington after reopening bill gates 7.23 Bill Gates: US infection rate is deeply troubling Mask test study wellness_00012808.jpg See how layered masks affect spread of Covid-19 He battled Covid-19 for 128 days. Here's what he wants you to know WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 19: U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos listens during a cabinet meeting in the East Room of the White House on May 19, 2020 in Washington, DC. Earlier in the day President Trump met with members of the Senate GOP. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Keilar: Here's the catch on DeVos' claim on kids and Covid-19 Monete hicks Mom who lost two kids to Covid-19: Take this seriously President Donald Trump looks on as Dr. Deborah Birx speaks about the coronavirus outbreak in the press briefing room at the White House on March 17, 2020. Birx issues Covid-19 warning as Trump paints rosier picture senate republicans white house proposal stimulus plan pkg mattingly nr vpx_00010916.jpg Senate GOP split with WH over elements of stimulus plan Here's what Fauci thinks about the latest vaccine trial SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 13: A nurse wearing protective clothing emerges from a tent a a coronavirus testing center at the University of Washington Medical center on March 13, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. UW Medical staff feeling potential symptoms of COVID-19 were asked to pass through a drive-through screening center on campus for testing. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) How Covid-19 numbers are looking across the country They created a community of Covid-19 'long haulers' EL CENTRO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 21: Clinicians care for a COVID-19 patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at El Centro Regional Medical Center in hard-hit Imperial County on July 21, 2020 in El Centro, California. Imperial County currently suffers from the highest death rate and near-highest infection rate from COVID-19 in California. The rural county, which is 85 percent Latino, borders Mexico and Arizona and endures high poverty rates and air pollution while also being medically underserved. In California, Latinos make up about 39 percent of the population but account for 55 percent of confirmed coronavirus cases amid the pandemic. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) California reports highest number of single-day Covid-19 deaths Doctor describes trying to revive patient in parking lot dr anthony fauci peter navarro white house coronavirus atlantic sot nr vpx_00001829 Fauci: Hate mail and threats made against me because of Covid-19 texas boys with covid-19 ebof vpx Parents describe dealing with two Covid-19 positive sons Washington (CNN)Senate Republicans formally unveiled a roughly $1 trillion stimulus proposal this week, offering a starting point for negotiations with Democrats over what will likely become Congress's last major economic response to the pandemic. The $600 federal boost to unemployment benefits expires July 31, but millions of people are already receiving their last checks. Democrats, who control the House, are unified behind a far bigger and different proposal. They passed their own $3 trillion stimulus bill in May. Republicans will need support from Democrats to get a bill on the President's desk and the two sides are starting far apart. Here are some of the key differences between the two bills: Content by CNN Underscored Get gourmet coffee delivered to your door If you're desperately missing your local coffee shop, or just want to treat yourself, these coffee subscription services deliver gourmet brews right to your door. | |||||||||