Republicans to Oppose Coronavirus Bill with Free Testing, Medical Leave, Food Assistance

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Republicans to Oppose Coronavirus Bill with Free Testing, Medical Leave, Food Assistance

Republicans in Congress, along with the White House, plan to oppose a sweeping economic stimulus bill in response to the fast-spreading coronavirus.

Republicans are refusing to pass a bill that has
– free coronavirus testing
– paid emergency medical leave
– extended unemployment insurance
– food assistance
– help for health care workers. Call their offices, tell them to get their shit together and do it. Thanks.

— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) March 12, 2020

Politico reports: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told Republican lawmakers on a conference call Thursday morning that the GOP is going to oppose the Democratic coronavirus bill as currently constructed, according to sources on the call.Democrats will likely to be able to pass the bill in the House, but the Republican opposition is a blow to hopes for bipartisanship, and could be a harbinger for how Senate Republicans and the White House will view the bill.

Minority staffs of committees of jurisdiction were given language yesterday afternoon. Democrats included requested changes from Republican staffs of W&M, Energy & Comm, Ed&Labor and Agriculture. This statement is not true: t.co/cLlwVJKHa2

— Drew Hammill (@Drew_Hammill) March 12, 2020

More from CNN: The sweeping legislation the House plans to vote on Thursday would provide free testing for the novel coronavirus, including for uninsured individuals. It would also provide funding for paid emergency leave for people either diagnosed with coronavirus or people who had to stop working to care for someone affected by the virus. Individuals who are eligible to get benefits could receive two-thirds of their average monthly earnings up to $4,000 for the month in which they have to take off 14 or more days of work. The bill would allow the benefit to be received for up to three months. The proposal would set aside nearly $1 billion for food assistance for those affected by coronavirus, with $500 million being earmarked for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which provides nutritional assistance to millions of low-income women and their children, in order to provide additional support for women or mothers who are affected by the pandemic. Another $400 million would go to The Emergency Food Assistance Program in order to provide aid to food banks that are being met with a higher demand during the pandemic.

Their depravity knows no bounds.

And we all know that McCarthy would have no idea what’s workable and that this is really because Trump hates – and is afraid of – Pelosi t.co/TMPqvM4Zns

— Joe Sudbay (@JoeSudbay) March 12, 2020

The Los Angeles Times reports: Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) paused deliberations on the measure this morning to look over proposals that Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin sent on behalf of the administration. Mnuchin and Pelosi spoke twice Thursday morning to discuss ideas, according to Pelosi’s spokesperson, Drew Hamill. But House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) signaled his opposition to the Democratic proposal, suggesting bipartisan agreement was not close. White House officials would not specify what changes the administration is asking for. “The White House does not support much of what the speaker has proposed as currently drafted, but we do support many of the policies reflected in her draft, and are asking that they continue to work with us to find a bipartisan, bicameral agreement,” said a White House official who was not authorized to comment by name.

The Dem bill has…
1. free testing for #coronavirus
2. health care workers support
3. unemployment insurance
4. food assistance
5. paid emergency medical leave

What kind of monster wouldn’t support that during this outbreak?? #CoronavirusPandemic t.co/EGtUkX6C1H

— Ethan Somers (@ethanjsomers) March 12, 2020

If Trump and Republicans reject the new Democratic proposal on coronavirus in bad faith, House Dems will simply pass it and dump it in Trump’s lap, challenging him to reject it, an aide tells me.

This is a lifeline. Trump should grab it.

New piece:t.co/tvzeVp4Uif

— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) March 12, 2020

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