Senate Democrats rejected the slimmed-down GOP stimulus bill on Thursday with a 52-47 vote, saying the legislation didn’t do enough to address the coronavirus crisis. Every Republican but Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) voted for the bill, while every Democrat opposed it.
The roughly $500 billion bill included liability protections, enhanced unemployment benefits of $300 per week (half of what was included in the CARES Act), an extension of the Paycheck Protection Program, money for schools, vaccines and COVID-19 testing. The House passed a $3 trillion bill back in May, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has offered to accept a $2.2 trillion bill — but Republicans have rejected that offer.
In an interview with Yahoo Finance shortly before the vote, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) called the so-called skinny bill “completely inadequate.”
“It reflects the priorities of [Senate Majority Leader] Mitch McConnell's friends and these corporations that are going to get all these special liability breaks, but it sure doesn't reflect the interests of working families,” said Wyden. “I hope that he's going to recognize that the idea of putting on this 24-, 36-hour show trial to pretend that he's actually doing something for working families when there is virtually no ‘there’ there, is not going to score him any points with the American people.”
When asked if Congress could pass a relief bill before the election, Wyden put the responsibility on Republicans.
“I find it hard to see how he [McConnell] can explain this kind of inadequate bill that doesn't meet the needs of our citizens...and then go home and say, ‘this constitutes leadership.’ I think people are going to find that pretty farfetched and not credible,” said Wyden.
On Wednesday Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) told Yahoo Finance the burden was on the Democratic party to get a relief bill over the finish line. Both parties have continuously blamed each other for the gridlock that’s held up additional coronavirus aid.
It’s not clear when stimulus negotiations could start up again — and passing a bill will likely become more difficult as the election gets closer. Lawmakers are set to leave Washington to campaign at the end of the month.
Every Senate Democrat just voted against hundreds of billions of dollars of COVID-19 relief. They blocked money for schools, testing, vaccines, unemployment insurance, and the Paycheck Protection Program.
Their goal is clear: No help for American families before the election.— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) September 10, 2020
McConnell and other Republicans have accused Democrats of holding up additional relief in an effort to hurt President Trump and other Republicans when voters head to the polls. Democrats reject that idea, and saying Republicans knew their skinny bill wouldn’t pass and are using the vote for political cover.
“I have long felt that I didn't see how Mitch McConnell could come in with a completely inadequate package, kind of go through the motions, as we're going to do with a show procedural vote and then throw up his hands and call it a day and say, we're done,” Wyden said.
Jessica Smith is a reporter for Yahoo Finance based in Washington, D.C. Follow her on Twitter at @JessicaASmith8.
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