Massachusetts Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey joined their Democratic colleagues in blocking a $1.6 trillion GOP stimulus package in a procedural vote in the senate Sunday, as negotiations continue between Congress and the White House.
In a 47-47 vote, Democratic Senators denied the GOP the 60 votes needed to move forward, sending Republicans back to the negotiating table. Democrats argue that the proposal, in its current iteration, fails to assist healthcare providers and people in the working class, and bails out corporations instead.
“The Republicans want to direct the help to giant corporations,” Warren told WGBH News Sunday. “They want to have a $450 billion bailout for big corporations on pretty much a no-strings-attached basis. We just can't do that. We can't raid the American treasury and say all the money's got to go to the big guys and not to American families.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has insisted on the passage of the proposal by Monday, before the financial markets deteriorate even further.
Warren says she understands the urgency, but it’s worth waiting for a stimulus package that helps everyone.
“This is a very hard time for the American people, and we need to get help out and we need to get it help out directly, but it's got to be help to those who need it most,” Warren said. “This idea that the Republicans have that if your income is lower, you get less help than higher income individuals, that's just wrong. Plus, we need to make sure that this is sustained help.”
Sen. Markey says he will continue to oppose any version of the proposal that does not include expansion of funding for Medicaid, nutrition funding for families who rely on schools for food, student loan forgiveness and expanded paid leave provisions.
“There was a corporate relief package, not a worker relief package,” Markey said. “Corporations are actually breathing a sigh of relief, and workers were left wondering how they will pay for rent or buy food. Any stimulus package must be families and workers first, as they are the ones struggling the most right now.”
Markey criticized President Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, describing the president as “in denial” of the scope and demands of the crisis.
During a Sunday briefing at the White House, Trump addressed criticism of his administration’s response to the pandemic. The president noted that he has been closely working with New York, Washington and California — three of the hardest hit states — and invoked a measure that allows the federal government to cover the costs associated with the governors calling the national guard for assistance.
Markey says he regularly hears complaints from state and city leaders who are unhappy with Trump’s handling of the crisis and the resources being provided on a state level, which is why he is pushing for a stimulus package that includes those needs.
“There was nothing in the Republican [stimulus package] bill that would increase Medicaid funding, which is a top priority of the governors, and would allow a direct and immediate infusion of health care money,” Markey said. “There was no dedicated money for state or local governments. The one thing I hear from the mayors across Massachusetts is that they need help at the city level so that they can lead the response in the absence of action by Donald Trump.”
Hours before the vote, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky announced he had tested positive for coronavirus and was in quarantine.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
