Bipartisan Group’s COVID-19 Relief Package Proposal to Be Split Into Two Deals
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) speaks to the media after the Republican's weekly senate luncheon in the US Capitol on December 8, 2020 in Washington, DC. McConnell spoke on the ongoing Coronavirus relief package legislation. Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images

The bipartisan group of House and Senate negotiators made a decision to split the $908 billion COVID-19 relief package proposal into two separate deals. One bill will have a price cap of $748 billion proposal, as reported by CNN.

This includes funding for small business loans, jobless benefits, vaccine distribution, among other matters.

The other package will include a $160 billion for state and local aid that covers liability protections for businesses and other entities, which is the two biggest sticking points.

However, it is not yet uncertain how many senators and House members from the group will sign onto the second proposal. The expectation is the first proposal will have wide support.

Six senators were holding calls Sunday afternoon to try to reach an agreement on the issue after a stalemate.

However, the decision will be up to the leadership to decide what to include in the spending bill that has to pass by Friday to keep the government working.

Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy said that they are going to introduce a bill tomorrow night. He added that the leadership can discard it, noting that what Senate Leader Mitch McConnell decides to do.

Bipartisan Group Proposal

The $908 billion proposal will not include a second direct payment, which shows as an issue among some lawmakers.

Other hot issues that could delay the bill is the liability protection to keep businesses and institutions from being sued over COVID-19 transmissions, according to a CNET report.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said that they must act as it is irresponsible that they not acted to date.

He added that it is an absolute failure of the Congress.

"We want to get aid out to people who are really, really struggling," Hoyer was quoted on a CNET report.

A COVID-19 relief package proposal before Jan. 1 is now considered emergency legislation to establish a safety net for expiring benefits that could leave million of unemployed Americans without an income.

This could also leave millions of households facing eviction from their homes.

On Friday, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden that the relief package will not be the absolute answer even if it gets passed. However, he added that it is the first step.

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin said that they have been meeting day and night for the last month, adding that they were on a call all day yesterday.

"There is no way, no way, that we are going to leave Washington without taking care of the emergency needs of our people. And that's all of our country," Manchin was quoted on a report.

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders are working together to amend the $908 billion proposal with another round of stimulus checks. They were following the template that has been set out in CARES Act,

Hawley said on Dec. 11 that if the Senate can find hundreds of billions of dollars to give to big government and big businesses, they can surely find some relief for working families and working individuals.