Negotiating in good faith means closing the gap, not change to the unmodified Republican plan with major concessions when none has been made by the other side. If there is no movement on the Republican side to closing the gap then it’s time for the budget reconciliation approach as people need help now! Glad to hear Biden state that Republicans didn’t even meet half way, and that bipartisanship is a willingness to talk but not necessarily make major concessions.
Currently the plans financially align on Vaccination Program & Small Business loans with some differences in implementation but have large gaps to work out for unemployment, direct payment, education, child care, housing, food, paid leave, and state and local.
1) Vaccination Program. Both agree on $160B for a national vaccine program increasing personnel & equipment.
2) Unemployment Insurance gap of $200B with Dems proposing $400/week in benefits and Republicans proposing $300/week. Note: Dems have already reduced from previous proposals of $600/week but Republicans have not moved from their $300/week proposal at all.
3) Direct Payments gap of $245B with Dems proposing $1400/pp, and Republicans proposing $1000/pp and $500/child.
4) State & Local gap of $350B as Republicans have proposed nothing for this category.
5) Education gap of $145B with Dems proposing $130B for K-12 and $35B for higher education versus Republicans $20B for K-12 and nothing for higher education.
6) Small Business. Both propose $50B but allocate it differently. Dems propose $15B in grants and $35B in low interest loans while Republicans put the entire $50B in low interest loans.
7) Child Care gap of $140B with alignment on $20B on block grants but no money for child care or child care providers in the Republican plan.
8) Rental Assistance gap as Dems extends foreclosure moratorium till 9-30-21, $30B in rent & utilities, and $5B for homeless housing but Republicans propose nothing in this category.
9) Paid Leave provided by companies for employees concerned about Covid not in Republican plan at all.
10) Food Assistance. Dems have not specified an amount but Republicans propose $12B.
11) Miscellaneous.
a) Mental Health aligns at $4B
b) Vet Health $20B Dems only
c) Public Transit $20B Dems only
d) Am. Indian $20B Dems only
e) Cyber Defense $10B Dems only
f) Min. wage $15/hr Dems only
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-proposals-fact-idUSKBN2A13JS
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKy0gBXMiFk/?igshid=1g927rx82mhyu