Wednesday, 3 February 2021

House Democrats voted to circumvent Republicans and pass Biden's $1.9 trillion stimulus package on their own

nancy pelosi — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sanitizes the gavel after Vice President Mike Pence walked off the dais during a joint session of Congress to certify the 2020 Electoral College results on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC.
Erin Schaff-Pool/Getty Images

House Democrats voted to advance a budget bill, which sets the stage for Biden's stimulus package to pass in a party-line vote.
Biden met with Democrats earlier in the day and they doubled down on their intent to move swiftly.
"There's agreement, universal agreement we must go big and bold," Schumer said.
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House Democrats on Wednesday approved a measure to enact President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion emergency spending package on a party-line vote without Republican support.

The vote to approve the budget resolution passed 218-212. Two Democratic lawmakers opposed it along with every GOP lawmaker.

The passage of the budget bill in the House sets the stage for the Senate to take up the same piece of legislation later this week. It's the first step in the reconciliation process, a maneuver that opens special procedures in the Senate that allow bills to pass with a simple majority vote.

Earlier in the day, Biden met with Democratic senators in the White House to discuss his proposed relief package.

It includes provisions such as a fresh wave of $1,400 stimulus checks, $400 federal unemployment benefits, vaccine distribution funds, and aid for states and cities.

"There's agreement, universal agreement we must go big and bold," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Biden told House Democrats he was open to negotiating the threshold of a fresh wave of stimulus checks for Americans.

This story is developing, check back for updates.

Read the original article on Business Insider