President Joe Biden, Democrats push Covid relief without GOP support

President Biden addressed the need for urgency on passing the Covid relief package today, citing the disappointing jobs data. Top democrats are pushing the bill through budget reconciliation, which does not need Republican support. Kayla Tausche joins Shep Smith to report. For access to live and exclusive video from CNBC subscribe to CNBC PRO: https://cnb.cx/2NGeIvi The House aims to pass a coronavirus relief bill within two weeks, as Democrats push ahead with the process that enables them to approve a rescue package with no Republican votes, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday. The Senate passed a budget resolution early Friday after a marathon of votes on dozens of amendments. The House followed in the afternoon in a nearly party line vote, starting the reconciliation process that would allow President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion rescue package to get through the Democratic-held Senate with a simple majority. “On Monday we will begin working on the specifics of the bill,” Pelosi told reporters after meeting with Biden and Democratic House committee chairs at the White House. House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., said it will have the votes to pass despite some concerns within the party about its cost. Democrats passed the budget resolution 51-50 in the evenly split Senate, as Vice President Kamala Harris had to cast her first tiebreaking vote. The party line vote after about 15 hours of considering politically thorny amendments underscores the divide in Congress on how to structure the next aid package. “I am so thankful that our caucus stayed together in unity,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said after the vote. “We had no choice given the problems facing America and the desire to move forward. And we have moved forward.” He contended “this was a bipartisan activity” because the chamber adopted several amendments written by senators from both parties. While President Joe Biden has said he hopes to win Republican support for the aid plan, Democrats have started to set up the framework to pass the proposal as soon as possible without GOP support. Without using reconciliation, Democrats would have to win 10 Republicans over in a Senate split 50-50. Speaking after new data showed the U.S. gained only 49,000 jobs in January, Biden said he wants to work with Republicans, but the party is “just not willing to go as far as I think we have to go.” He said he faces an “easy choice” between passing a bill now with only Democrats or getting “bogged down in a lengthy negotiation.” The budget resolution directs committees to write legislation reflecting Biden’s Covid relief package, while staying under the $1.9 trillion target. Democrats aim to pass, among other provisions: $1,400 direct payments A $400 per week jobless benefit through September $350 billion in state, local and tribal government relief A $20 billion national Covid vaccination program $50 billion for virus testing $170 billion for K-12 schools and higher education institutions A $30 billion rent and utility assistance fund Some Democrats, such as Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia who can sink a bill by himself in the Senate, have raised concerns about the size of the proposal and called for more limits on who receives the $1,400 checks. While Biden said he would support capping the deposits at a lower income level, “I’m not cutting the size of the checks.” Multiple amendments passed during the string of Senate votes, though many were vague, and it was not clear how they would affect final legislation. They included a measure to prevent high-income people from getting stimulus checks, one to set up a grant program for restaurants and one to bar tax increases on small businesses during the pandemic. » Subscribe to CNBC TV: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBCtelevision » Subscribe to CNBC: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBC » Subscribe to CNBC Classic: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBCclassic Turn to CNBC TV for the latest stock market news and analysis. From market futures to live price updates CNBC is the leader in business news worldwide. The News with Shepard Smith is CNBC’s daily news podcast providing deep, non-partisan coverage and perspective on the day’s most important stories. Available to listen by 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT daily beginning September 30: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/29/the-n... Connect with CNBC News Online Get the latest news: http://www.cnbc.com/ Follow CNBC on LinkedIn: https://cnb.cx/LinkedInCNBC Follow CNBC News on Facebook: Follow CNBC News on Twitter: https://cnb.cx/FollowCNBC Follow CNBC News on Instagram: https://cnb.cx/InstagramCNBC https://www.cnbc.com/select/best-cred... #CNBC #CNBCTV