Pelosi to unveil coronavirus package as anxiety spreads [View all]

[riversedge]

Source: POLITICO




Speaker Nancy Pelosi's stimulus proposal is landing amid rising anxiety among lawmakers themselves, who are worried about remaining on Capitol Hill. Win McNamee/Getty Images

By KYLE CHENEY, SARAH FERRIS and HEATHER CAYGLE



Updated: 03/11/2020 07:19 PM EDT



Speaker Nancy Pelosi is set to unveil sweeping legislation to provide protections for Americans who may be directly affected by the coronavirus, a measure that has quickly gained steam as Democrats attempt to work with the Trump administration to pass the legislation Thursday.

The details of Pelosi's package are close to being finalized, and will include provisions targeted at hourly workers who would be particularly hard-hit if forced to self-quarantine, as well as provisions to ensure workers won't be penalized by employers for taking sick days.



House Democrats briefed on the package described it as comprehensive, with provisions like paid sick leave for three months, Medicaid reimbursement for hospitals and unemployment insurance, as well as health-related protections like anti-price gouging prohibitions and widespread free testing.

"I hope it'll be very generous so we can really be accountable to those who are suffering with losing their jobs, who have no access to food, et cetera," said Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee.

House Democrats are moving their plan rapidly, pushing it to the floor within 24 hours -- just ahead of the chamber's planned week-long recess. But it's not clear yet if Republicans or the White House will support the measure, which is pitched as the next, but not final, step in the coronavirus response................................

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/11/nancy-pelosi-coronavirus-stimulus-package-125564

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Good work Dems.






The speaker enters negotiations with the White House with the upper hand.
Nancy Pelosi