Accepting Republicans' $618 billion coronavirus relief counteroffer would be “unconditional surrender," says Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.
He tweeted Saturday:
"Never confuse bipartisanship with unconditional surrender. We will work with reasonable Republicans to provide comprehensive COVID-19 relief. That's bipartisanship. We will not slash the American Rescue Plan by $1.3 trillion. That's unconditional surrender."
The group of 10 Republican senators seeking to negotiate with President Joe Biden on a new round of COVID relief unveiled details of their proposal Monday. It totals roughly $618 billion, roughly one-third of the size of the $1.9 trillion plan put forward by Biden and Democratic leaders in Congress.
But Biden on Friday said Republicans were not willing "to go as far as I think we need to go."
"It is very clear our economy is still in trouble," Biden said during remarks at the White House.
"I know some in Congress think we've already done enough to deal with the crisis in the country. That's not what I see. I see enormous pain in this country. A lot of folks out of work. A lot of folks going hungry."
Democrats have advanced with plans to begin drafting Biden's aid package next week and speed it through the House by the end of February.
"Our work to crush the coronavirus and deliver relief to the American people is urgent and of the highest priority," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., wrote in a letter to Democrats shortly before the stimulus plan passed by a 219-to-209 margin.
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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