Log Jam Broken on COVID-19 Relief Package in Congress - Rob Horowitz

Log Jam Broken on COVID-19 Relief Package in Congress - Rob Horowitz

The log jam that had stalled a third COVID-19 relief package for several months, despite the urgent need for it throughout the nation, has finally broken, thanks to a bi-partisan group of US Senators who last week advanced a compromise proposal designed to tide us over until a larger package can be assembled next year by the incoming Biden Administration.

Republican Senators Mitt Romney (UT), Lisa Murkowski (AL), Susan Collins (ME),and Bill Cassidy (LA), working together with Democratic Senators, Joe Manchin (WV), Mark Warner(VA),  Richard Durbin (IL), and Independent Angus King(ME) who caucuses with the Democrats, devised a $908 billion dollar framework that incorporates principled compromises on the most contentious issues that have blocked progress. 

Their legislative template includes $300 a week of federal unemployment benefits for about 4 months—half of what Democrats were seeking, but still substantial and timely assistance to the 12 million Americans whose unemployment benefits are about to run out.  It also provides a temporary moratorium on some coronavirus law suits—an important priority to Republicans.  Additionally, it provides $160 billion in aid to state and local governments-- funding that is essential to avoiding major layoffs and further damaging the economy since unlike the federal government these entities are required to balance their budgets every year.   

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As the New York Times reported, the package also “includes about $288 billion in funding for small businesses, including through the Paycheck Protection Program and other aid. It also includes $45 billion for transportation agencies, $82 billion for education, $26 billion in nutrition assistance and $16 billion in health care, including to help with coronavirus testing and tracing, and vaccine distribution.”

This bipartisan proposal immediately received the support of the Problem-Solvers Caucus in the House of Representatives, comprised of more than 50 members evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans.  More importantly, Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Schumer (D-NY) embraced it and a number of Senate Republicans who were not part of the bi-partisan group that advanced the framework commented favorably on it.   The proposal and its positive reception triggered the first direct conversation between Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader McConnell (R-KY).

The surge in COVID-19 cases and the related slow- down of the economy as evidenced by last week’s disappointing jobs report makes it even more imperative that this proposal or a version of it be adopted before the end of the Congressional session, which is quickly coming to a close.  Reflecting the views of the overwhelming majority of economists, Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM, an accounting firm focused on midsize businesses, told the Washington Post, “One should anticipate rough sledding over the next 90 days in terms of hiring,” I mean, it just screams the economy needs more fiscal aid, right now.”

 The good news is that for the first time in a long-time, due to the leadership of a small group of United States Senators, who are putting the nation first and working in the true spirit of constructive bipartisanship, there are solid grounds for optimism that Americans will get the help they desperately need and just in time to lessen the difficulties for many families and to avoid a sharp economic downturn.

Rob Horowitz is a strategic and communications consultant who provides general consulting, public relations, direct mail services and polling for national and state issue organizations, various non-profits, businesses, and elected officials and candidates. He is an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at the University of Rhode Island.