Covid-19 Relief Plan Splits Key Aid, Most Contentious Items
- Proposal splits liability, state aid portion from rest of plan
- Top leaders in Congress expected to step in to hash out deal
Senator Joe Manchin
Photographer: Stefani Reynolds/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers released proposed Covid-19 relief legislation that may provide momentum for breaking a months-long impasse, by separating out coronavirus liability protections and state aid -- the two most contentious and partisan items.
After Republicans and Democrats failed to come to a consensus on a liability shield for employers, the group that has been working on a bipartisan compromise released two separate legislative proposals. One is for $748 billion and includes areas of accord like vaccine funding and aid to small businesses, and the other wraps the two most contentious items, including $160 billion for regional authorities.