Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is confident Democrats have enough votes to pass another COVID-19 relief package.
“I believe that we do because it’s hard for me to imagine any Democrat, no matter what state he or she may come from, who doesn’t understand the need to go forward right now in an aggressive way to protect the working families of this country,” Sanders said during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week.”
He added, “Look, all of us will have differences of opinion. This is a $1.9 trillion bill. I have differences and concerns about this bill, but at the end of the day, we’re going to support the president of the United States, and we’re going to come forward, and we’re going to do what the American people overwhelmingly want us to do. The polling is overwhelming. Republicans, Democrats, independents.”
Watch the video below:
“I believe that we do,” Sen. Bernie Sanders tells @MarthaRaddatz when asked if Democrats have enough votes to pass the COVID-19 relief bill.
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 31, 2021
Despite “differences and concerns” about the bill, the American people need relief, he adds. https://t.co/0tIupXQlob pic.twitter.com/aGbtmRQ7b1
During an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Sanders indicated Democrats would use budget reconciliation to pass the package, as IJR previously reported.
“Reconciliation, which is a Senate rule, was used by the Republicans under Trump to pass massive tax breaks for the rich and large corporations. It was used as an attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act,” Sanders said.
He continued, “And what we’re saying is ‘You used for that. That’s fine. We are going to use Reconciliation — that is 50 votes in the Senate plus the vice president — to pass legislation desperately needed by working families in this country. You did it. We’re going to do it.'”
Budget reconciliation only requires a simple majority in the Senate instead of 60 votes.
President Joe Biden suggested he is willing to use budget reconciliation to pass the package, as IJR reported.
“I support passing COVID relief with support from Republicans if we can get it. But, the COVID relief has to pass. There’s no ifs, ands, or buts,” he said.