Sen. Portman: McConnell COVID-19 Bill 'Good Starting Point'

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's proposed coronavirus bill is a "good starting point" as the $1 trillion it calls for is an "incredible amount of money" that addresses vital issues, Sen. Rob Portman said Wednesday, while agreeing that a new bill should allow a provision that protects businesses from being sued by employees who contract coronavirus.

"You have to have something here," the Ohio Republican said on CNBC's "Squawk Box." "I think Democrats acknowledge something needs to be here, but the question is the details. How does it work with state laws already in effect? I think it's a misnomer to say it's just about big business. It's more about small business and all these other entities, including nonprofits."

Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidelines should apply to how businesses reopen, said Portman, but people should be able to return to work safely.

"That's why I like the provisions in this legislation that incentivize a safe workplace by providing credit if you make your workplace safer," said Portman. "That is to be part of it and part of the compromise to get to something that makes sense and is COVID-19-related, of course."

Meanwhile, Portman said he thinks there is a "lot more common ground" than public comments on the bill would have one believe, as McConnell has put out a "very generous package" that covers every issue that's in the Democrats' proposal but doesn't spend as much money or have as many extraneous matters. 

"The $600 additional federal benefit on top of the state benefit for unemployment insurance, there's more ground than you might imagine because Democrats, as well as Republicans, are hearing from back home and what they are hearing is from small businesses, from mid-size businesses, large businesses, nonprofits it's tough to get people to come back to work," said Portman. "Continuing the $600 is obviously not a practical solution if you want to get people back to work safely."

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