GOP Outlines Potential Coronavirus Relief Bill

By Jim Pytell, Assistant Editor On Jul 22, 2020

Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell broadly outlined a proposal of another coronavirus relief bill, in which he said Republicans would like a second round of stimulus checks, additional Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding, $105 billion in aid for schools, and a sweeping five-year liability shield against coronavirus lawsuits for businesses.

McConnell said the official proposal would be unveiled “very soon” and is expected to sit around $1 trillion, compared to the $3 trillion bill previously passed in May.

“Our proposal will [also] dedicate even more resources to the fastest race for a new vaccine in human history, along with diagnostics and treatments,” McConnell said on the Senate floor on Tuesday. “Our bill will protect seniors from a potential spike in premiums. And the federal government will continue to support hospitals, providers and testing.”

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer warned that the GOP proposed bill appears to fall drastically short of what is needed in terms of funding, cuts down on unemployment benefits, and doesn’t include more money for state and local governments.

“This is a slap in the face to every governor across the country who has shouldered the responsibility of dealing with this pandemic,” Gov. Phil Murphy said in reaction to McConnell’s proposal at today’s COVID-19 press briefing. “What New Jersey has gotten back is a drop in the bucket compared to our needs. You would be hard pressed to find a state anywhere that would say differently.

“We will do everything we can to get the message through to Senator McConnell that his plan would hurt the very people who are going to rebuild this country stronger after this pandemic passes, he has my word on that,” Murphy continued. “As [McConnell] came into office in 1985, I can safely say that for the past 35 years [he] has never had to balance a budget.”

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