Latest news on stimulus checks and US relief bill
Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, tells reporters that he still hopes that the stimulus bill will decrease the federal unemployment benefit from $400 a week to $300 a week even as he acknowledged that leadership isn’t on board.
“I’ve been at $300. I think $300 is where we’ve been. It’s consistent with what we’ve been doing,” Manchin said.
“It’s kind of hard to explain the bump up now when we’re getting ready to come off… I would prefer it they stay at $300.”
Asked about making this change, Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy, a more liberal member, told reporters it wouldn’t be a red line for him but he’d prefer the benefit stayed at $400.
Manchin’s call represents the latest in a series of discussions moderate Democrats are pushing in the closing days of negotiations over the stimulus. Moderates have also pushed to include more funding for broadband and specifically target state and local funding to include infrastructure projects. Behind the scenes some of those items have been gaining traction with leadership while others like lowering the weekly unemployment benefit have not.
Manchin said his concern is the weekly benefit is so high that he just wants to make sure that once businesses begin opening this summer when people are vaccinated that there are enough workers. Pushed on if this is a red line for him, Manchin did not say.
“The bottom line is we are getting some language that will really help us work the bill, and I’m always here for that”
Reminded leadership does not back this idea, Manchin said he didn’t know where things would end up.
“We just don’t know,” Manchin said.
He also told reporters that Biden isn’t getting involved in the debate and he does not blame him for that.
“Joe is put in a hard position because he’s got people beating up on him all across the board,” Manchin said. “He is more inclined to let the process work and I appreciate that.”
President Biden is expected to join a Democratic caucus call this afternoon to urge the caucus to stay united in the days ahead.
Manchin said he expected negotiations on changes to the House bill to continue tonight and even into the morning.
