Democrats Begin Reconciliation Process

Some positive news have recently come to fruition in regards to the COVID Relief Bill. Pelosi and Schumer have filed a joint budget resolution kicking off reconciliation processes to pass a 1.9 trillion dollar COVID Aid with a simple majority vote. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, articulated his opinion by stating how “Congress must pursue a bold and robust course of action. It makes no sense to pinch pennies.” This statement appears to be reflective of President Biden’s upcoming approach in economic relief. Sen. Joe Manchin appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” to talk about the state of negotiations over President Joe Biden’s Covid-19 relief package. He had recently spoken to Biden about the path forward, he said, and Biden was quite clear. “He basically said, ‘I don’t want to go down the path we went down in two-oh-nine when we negotiated for eight months and still didn’t have a product and had to do what we’re doing now.’ I said, ‘Fine, Mr. President, I’m happy to start this process.”

However, there are rumored changes to the Bill that are substantially different than the initial promises made during recent elections from the Democrats. Firstly, speculation has revealed that stimulus checks will be adjusted from $2,000 down to $1,400. Asserting the idea that the total of stimulus payment checks would be 2,000 with consideration of the already distributed $600 checks back in early 2020. Alongside this modification is the reconsideration of applicable Americans to receive these relief benefits. Lowering the criteria for applicable Americans down to an annual salary of $50,000 instead of $75,000 and a subjective phase-in process which analyzes an American’s demand for compensation. Resulting in disproportionate payment distribution depending on a citizens salary rather than overall need. Regardless, reconciliation talks from the Democrats suggest the process will naturally be lengthy in nature in opposition to regular order by gaining enough Republican votes. Ultimately solidifying a considerable amount of time before money reaches the hands of its intended recipients and jeopardizing an appropriate arrival.