Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Biden Open To Stimulus Check Limits; House Vote Paves Path For Big Bill
The Wall Street Journal: Biden Open To Sending $1,400 Stimulus Checks To Smaller Group
President Biden indicated in a call with House Democrats that he was open to sending $1,400 payments to a smaller group of Americans in the next round of coronavirus relief legislation and changing the overall price tag of his $1.9 trillion plan, according to people familiar with the call. Mr. Biden told House Democrats on Wednesday that he wouldn’t change the amount of the proposed $1,400 payments, saying people had been promised that amount, according to the people. (Duehren and Collins, 2/3)
The Hill: House Approves Budget Resolution For COVID-19 Package
The House on Wednesday approved a budget resolution in a 218-212 vote that would allow Congress to pass a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill without Republican support. Two Democrats, Reps. Ed Case (Hawaii) and Jared Golden (Maine), voted against the measure in the otherwise party-line vote. (Elis, 2/3)
The Washington Post: Stimulus FAQ: The Latest Democratic Plan For The $1,400 Checks
The latest proposal Democrats are considering would send $1,400 payments to individuals earning $50,000 or less and $2,800 to married couples earning $100,000 or less. [Here] are more details on the latest plan, which has not been publicly released yet and could still change. (Long and Stein, 2/3)
Politico: Biden Plunges Fully Into Covid Relief Talks
After two weeks of letting negotiations over a Covid relief package linger in Congress, Joe Biden hit the gas on Wednesday. The president worked the phones and hunkered down with fellow Democrats at the White House, in what aides described as an overt signal that he wants his massive “rescue” package passed and passed quickly. “If we are going to get our arms wrapped around Covid, we have to act fast, we have to act big and the sooner we can start the better,” said White House senior adviser Cedric Richmond. “That’s how the president looks at it.” (Korecki and Pager, 2/3)
AP: Stuck In DC, Biden Team Pitches Rest Of US On Big Virus Aid
Even as President Joe Biden gathers with senators and works the phones with Capitol Hill to push for a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, his team is increasingly focused on selling the plan directly to voters. His administration has done 60-plus interviews with national TV and radio shows. There have been spots on local TV news and briefings last week with more than 50 groups that ranged from General Motors to Meals on Wheels America and Planned Parenthood. One of the main goals is to stop people from getting bogged down in the tangle of partisan deal-making and convince them that every penny of the “go big” package is needed. (Boak, 2/4)
KHN: Hard Bargain: Biden And Congress Agree On Basic Relief, But Chasms Remain On Covid Plan
President Joe Biden and a group of Republicans agreed this week on how much Congress should spend on vaccine distribution, covid-19 testing and other health investments that public health officials say are desperately needed to fight the pandemic. But agreement on those popular programs, which make up only 9% of Biden’s $1.9 trillion relief proposal, is not enough to dispense that money quickly. (Huetteman, 2/4)
