Senate Passes $1.9T Package, Top Political Scientist Talks Biden’s Stimulus, Raimondo and Cuomo
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Senate Passes $1.9T Package, Top Political Scientist Talks Biden’s Stimulus, Raimondo and Cuomo
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On Saturday at about noon, the United States Senate approved the foundation of President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus plan.
The package includes $300 per week in federal benefits for the unemployed, $1,400 stimulus checks and for a state like Rhode Island, it could be a windfall of $800 million-plus.
The House needs to approve the final version.
“The Democrats won the election and we would not be in a position where if Donald Trump was re-elected he would be making any sort of nice moves with the Democrats to reach any kind of compromise and the fact that the Republicans are unwilling to accept that I think demonstrates a difference between the two parties," said Lawless.
She added, “The Democrats in a lot of ways have been far too conciliatory over time, but Joe Biden won the election and the Senate is controlled by Democrats and the House is controlled by Democrats so even though those margins are tiny, that's how you that's how you pass legislation.”
Regarding the maneuvering of West Virginia U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, Lawless says, “I spend a lot of time bashing Joe Manchin but I think as far as the Democrats are concerned it's important to remember that Donald Trump won West Virginia by 40 points. So, the fact that there is a Democratic senator coming out of there means and that there are some concessions.”
“l think the best thing that happened to Gina Raimondo was Neera Tanden (Biden’s OMB nominee who had to be withdrawn),” said Lawless.
“This is a situation where the focus for the last couple of weeks has been on Tanden whether she could get confirmed to run the OMB and her background and her qualifications and what she had done right and what she had done wrong in her previous positions and what that meant was other nominees,” said Lawless.
Regarding New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Lawless said the fact that he is facing two investigations is a problem -- and thinks the nursing home inquiry is the bigger legal issue.
On GoLocal LIVE, Lawless reminded viewers, "You might recall that governor Ralph Northam who's currently is Governor (of Virginia) had that blackface incident, and Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax was accused of rape and both are still in office."