The left’s reaction to the counterproposal made by the ten GOP senators has been withering, to say the least. Is that fair?
Let’s break it down:
- INDIVIDUAL PAYMENTS: The proposal for the $1,400 checks only makes sense as a device to get enough votes for the rest of the package. Some members of the left appear to have lost sight of this, and are seeing the checks as an end in themselves. The GOP proposal to reduce the payments and target them more directly to the less affluent should be accepted, even if the people making the offer have a record of supporting tax cuts that would not meet their current standard.
- UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE: The 10 are willing to extend the payments through June, instead of March, at the weekly rate approved in December. It is highly unlikely that the hospitality industry will be running at full bore by the beginning of summer. I would use the proposal as the basis for negotiation, but require the extension until September.
- MONEY FOR VACCINATIONS: There is a huge difference between the Democratic and GOP numbers. Frankly, I don’t have enough information to evaluate this one.
- STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT RELIEF: The absence of any state and local government payments in a “unity” bill is shameful. The GOP just has a blind spot on this point. The need is immediate, and should be addressed in the first bill. This point is not negotiable.
- MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE: The GOP was never going to approve it, in any form. That should be taken as a given.
The bottom line is that I consider the offer serious, with the exception of the absence of state and local government relief. If the 10 won’t agree to that, the relief bill should be adopted by reconciliation ASAP.