Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Amended Covid Relief Bill Heads Back To The House
Roll Call: Senate Passes Massive COVID-19 Relief Bill, Sending Changes Back To House
The Senate approved a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package Saturday, sending it back to the House where Democratic leaders will need to convince their members to back changes to unemployment insurance and tax rebate checks. The 50-49 party-line vote capped off the more than 24 hours of continuous voting, courtesy of the fast-track process Democrats are using to advance the pandemic aid package. (Shutt, 3/6)
CNN: Stimulus Update: House To Vote On Biden's $1.9 Trillion Covid Relief Plan Tuesday
The House is scheduled to vote Tuesday on the Senate version of President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill, a timeline that could see the sweeping legislation signed into law early this week. On Monday evening, the House will vote on the terms for the bill's consideration, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said in a statement, and the chamber will vote to approve the changes made in the Senate the following day. (LeBlanc, 3/8)
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The New York Times: What’s In The Stimulus Bill? A Guide To Where The $1.9 Trillion Is Going
President Biden’s $1.9 trillion economic stimulus plan would have far-reaching effects on society as the country tries to turn the corner on a pandemic that has killed more than half a million people in the United States. The mammoth bill approved by the Senate on Saturday would provide direct payments to Americans, extend jobless benefits and provide a huge financial infusion to states and local governments as well as to schools to help them reopen. It provides funding for priorities like coronavirus testing and vaccine distribution. And it amounts to an ambitious antipoverty program, offering significant benefits for low-income people. (Kaplan, 3/7)
Roll Call: Gig Workers Would Pay Higher Taxes Under Coronavirus Aid Bill
A last-minute insert by Democrats looking to offset the cost of their coronavirus aid package would send tax collectors into the gig economy, eventually costing Uber and DoorDash drivers, Airbnb hosts and others about $1 billion annually. Under current law, such online platforms only have to report to the IRS when they pay individuals at least 200 times a year, for a minimum $20,000. The change inserted into a managers' amendment just before House floor debate on the $1.9 trillion measure would cut that threshold to $600, regardless of how many transactions, generating an estimated $8.4 billion in extra tax revenue through fiscal 2031. (Sword, 3/5)
The New York Times: In the Stimulus Bill, a Policy Revolution in Aid for Children
Obscured by other parts of President Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package, which won Senate approval on Saturday, the child benefit has the makings of a policy revolution. Though framed in technocratic terms as an expansion of an existing tax credit, it is essentially a guaranteed income for families with children, akin to children’s allowances that are common in other rich countries. (DeParle, 3/7)
CNBC: Covid Relief: Biden Says Stimulus Checks Coming This Month After Bill Passes
President Joe Biden said Saturday that Americans will start getting their stimulus checks this month, as Democrats rush to send more aide out. “When we took office 45 days ago, I promised the American people that help was on the way. Today, I can say we’ve taken one more giant step forward in delivering on that promise that help is on the way,” Biden said in an afternoon press conference. (Bursztynsky, 3/6)
