Biden vows to ‘act fast’ on coronavirus relief as he takes aim at Republicans

Biden said Americans were "hurting"

Credit: SAUL LOEB /AFP

Joe Biden indicated he was willing to push ahead with his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill without Republican support as he underscored the perils of failing to take urgent action.

The US president said Friday’s disappointing employment report, which showed the economy added just 49,000 jobs in January, pressed the need for a major stimulus package.

"I believe the American people are looking right now to their government for help… so I’m going to act fast,"  he said in a White House speech.

The president, who came to office on a pledge to unite the country, has indicated he would like Republican support for his financial relief package but said he would not engage in lengthy debates. 

“If I have to choose between getting help right now to Americans who are hurting so badly and getting bogged down in a lengthy negotiation or compromising on a bill that’s up to the crisis, that’s an easy choice.

“I’m going to help the American people who are hurting now,” he said.

Taking aim at Republicans in Congress, who have called for more modest spending, Mr Biden said: “What Republicans have proposed is either to do nothing or not enough.”  

A key point of contention between Democrats and Republicans is the size of direct payments to struggling Americans. Democrats have called for people to receive $1,400 cheques, but Republicans have argued these should be limited to those who need the money the most.

The White House on Friday said it would not budge on the size of the payments but was open to negotiation how many people qualify for the payments.

Democrats in the House of Representatives pressed ahead and approved a budget resolution Friday night that would enable them to push Mr Biden’s $1.9 trillion proposal through Congress without Republican support.

It came after the Senate narrowly approved a version of the budget plan after an all night marathon "vote-a-rama" debate that went into Friday morning.

At the end of the 15-hour session, the Senate found itself in a 50-50 partisan deadlock over passage, with Vice President Kamala Harris, using her power to cast her first tiebreaker vote.

The House vote Friday is expected to accept the Senate’s changes.

Passing the budget plan in both chambers allows Democrats to use a legislative tool called reconciliation to enact Mr Biden’s relief package by a simple majority, meaning they could proceed without Republicans’ backing.