As White House Floats Skimpier Relief Bill in Bid for GOP Support, Progressives Warn [View all]

[turbinetree]

Going Small Would Be 'Catastrophic'

Published on Thursday, January 28, 2021
by Common Dreams

"Congress should err on the side of offering generous relief to a larger pool of people, rather than too little."

by Jake Johnson, staff writer

With the Biden White House reportedly weighing the possibility of splitting its proposed coronavirus relief package into two parts in an effort to attract some Republican support, leaders of the Congressional Progressives Caucus are warning that anything less than the president's $1.9 trillion opening offer would represent an unacceptable betrayal of economically desperate Americans.

In a letter (pdf) to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-Calif.) on Wednesday, more than two dozen members of the CPC Executive Board wrote that "if we aim too low, the financial consequences will be catastrophic, long-lasting, and borne by the American families who can least afford it."

The letter was signed by CPC chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), deputy chair Katie Porter (D-Calif.), caucus whip Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), and 21 other lawmakers.

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/01/28/white-house-floats-skimpier-relief-bill-bid-gop-support-progressives-warn-going