Senator John Barrasso, Republican of Wyoming, declared that accepting a Democratic push to expand elements of the Affordable Care Act would be “an enormous betrayal” of Republican voters. Republicans have also voiced concerns that the health care provisions Democrats have pressed for could result in the use of federal funds for abortions, a characterization Democrats dispute. It includes $15 billion for food assistance programs, $25 billion for student loan forgiveness and $60 billion for mortgage and rental assistance. The offer would also allocate $300 billion to state and local governments and enough funds to increase the $1,200 stimulus payments with an extra $1,000 per child. The addition to stimulus payments, which have bipartisan support, was included as a way to counter Ms. Pelosi’s plan to expand child-related tax credits.

Source: New York Times October 10, 2020 21:22 UTC