Senate Republicans presented their $1 trillion (Dh3.67tn) plan to bolster the US economy in a series of bills that would trim extra unemployment benefits, send $1,200 cheques to most residents and shield businesses, schools and other organisations from lawsuits stemming from Covid-19 infections.
The package was pulled together after days of negotiations between Senate Republicans and President Donald Trump’s emissaries that did not completely settle differences within the Republican Party over the size and scope of additional federal spending in response to the pandemic.
“We have one foot in the pandemic and one foot in the recovery,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Monday on the Senate floor, noting the rising death toll and fragile economic recovery.
“The American people need more help, they need it to be comprehensive and they need it to be carefully tailored to this crossroads.”
The bills were just the first step toward negotiating a compromise plan with Democrats, who have offered their own $3.5tn stimulus plan.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer began the talks in her office for almost two hours with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows on Monday evening.
“We will be back tomorrow,” Mr Meadows said. “We had a good meeting. A very productive meeting.”
Ms Pelosi delivered a harsh assessment of the Republican Party plan, calling it a “pathetic” piecemeal approach and saying it was not adequate to the country’s needs.
“Having said that, we are going to see if we can find some common ground,” she said. “But we are not there yet.”
Congress has little time to act: supplemental unemployment insurance is expiring and other elements of the last stimulus legislation are beginning to dry up. Politicians are set to leave for an August break in two weeks and will face a timetable compressed by the November election when they return in September.
Diane Swonk, chief economist at Grant Thornton, said Congress is “chasing a moving target” with stimulus bills.
“I fear Covid[-19] will cast a long shadow on the economy and the aid Congress is offering up is too little, too late,” Ms Swonk said. “The bankruptcies and failures that will mount could leave us a much smaller and fractured base from which to rebuild.”
Continuing dissent among Republicans makes Mr McConnell’s negotiating position more difficult.
“There is significant resistance to yet another trillion dollars,” Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said. “As it stands now I think it’s likely that you’ll see a number of Republicans in opposition to this bill and expressing serious concerns.”
There also was a split between the White House and Senate Republicans. Mr Meadows had suggested that Congress pass a much smaller package of school and unemployment benefits and continue negotiating a larger plan through August.
Mr McConnell’s statement that the bill had to be comprehensive was a rejection of that position.
Mr Schumer called the Republican Party effort to put together a package a “slow-motion train wreck” that has delayed getting legislation through Congress.
“They can’t even put one bill together; they are so divided,” he said.
There are some areas of common ground between Democrats and Republicans. They agree on another round of stimulus payments for individuals, although Democrats want to increase the amount paid to dependents and expand eligibility.
The wages protection programme for small businesses is another measure that the two parties support that is expected to be in the final bill.
Republicans agreed to extend supplemental unemployment benefits but have proposed cutting them from $600 a week to $200 until states are able to create a system that would provide 70 per cent of a laid-off worker’s previous pay up to a state-set cap.
Mr Schumer said tying the payments to actual wages will be “unworkable” for most state unemployment systems, which had trouble distributing the flat $600 payment that was part of the March stimulus bill.
The Republican plan also includes money for virus testing and to help with distribution of an eventual vaccine, as well as aid for schools.
Two of the biggest fights are expected to be over two issues that are crucial for the two sides: Democratic demands for aid to states and a Republican Party measure that provides protection against lawsuits stemming from coronavirus infections when businesses and schools reopen.
Who is Ramon Tribulietx?
Born in Spain, Tribulietx took sole charge of Auckland in 2010 and has gone on to lead the club to 14 trophies, including seven successive Oceania Champions League crowns. Has been tipped for the vacant New Zealand national team job following Anthony Hudson's resignation last month. Had previously been considered for the role.
Tips for job-seekers
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David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Norway v Spain, Saturday, 10.45pm, UAE
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
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RACECARD
6pm Emaar Dubai Sprint – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (Turf) 1,200m
6.35pm Graduate Stakes – Conditions (TB) $100,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.10pm Al Khail Trophy – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 2,810m
7.45pm UAE 1000 Guineas – Listed (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
8.20pm Zabeel Turf – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 2,000m
8.55pm Downtown Dubai Cup – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 1,400m
9.30pm Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,600m
10.05pm Dubai Sprint – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
