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February 2, 2021

Senate Republicans Meet at White House to Press Far Smaller Coronavirus Relief Bill
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A group of 10 Republican senators met at the White House with President
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris Monday, pushing a $618 billion
coronavirus relief package that's far smaller than Biden's proposed $1.9
trillion bill. After the meeting, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki
said President Biden was pushing ahead with more ambitious legislation.

Press Secretary Jen Psaki: "His view is that the size of the package
needs to be commensurate with the crises we're facing, the dual crises
we're facing, hence why he proposed a package that's $1.9 trillion. …
The president believes that the risk is not going too small, but going
not big enough."

Senate Democrats are pressing ahead with plans to pass the package using
a budget process known as reconciliation - which would bypass the
filibuster by requiring only a simple majority.


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