
A group of 10 “centralist” Republican senators are seeking to negotiate with President Biden on a bipartisan deal as Democrats are forging ahead with his $1.9 trillion COVID relief plan through the means of reconciliation.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) blocked two separate attempts from Democratic senators to set up a stand-alone vote on a bill recently passed in the House that would increase direct payments offered under the $900 billion COVID relief bill from $600 to $2,000, rebuffing President Trump request with more Senate Republicans voicing support behind providing most Americans the larger checks.