President-elect Joe Biden will seek a deal with Republicans on another round of COVID-19 relief, rather than attempting to ram a package through without their support, Bloomberg News reported. The approach could mean a smaller initial package that features some priorities favored by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). The idea is to forgo using a special budget process that would remove the need to get the support of at least 10 Republicans in the Senate, which will be split 50-50 and under Democratic control only thanks to the vice president’s vote. Biden transition staff briefed aides to congressional Democrats on Tuesday about the plans to work with the GOP and not use so-called budget reconciliation in an initial stimulus package. The briefing came a day after former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle urged his party to give McConnell “reasons to be cooperative,” which would unlock greater legislative achievements. Biden last week talked of a multitrillion-dollar economic package, but this could now come in stages. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, who’s been speaking with the Biden transition team, said in an interview yesterday that he would like to see infrastructure spending included in the stimulus package, and that he would be on board with a $2 trillion package.
