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, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The approach could mean a smaller initial package that features some priorities favored by Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell. 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.
Deborah "Deb" Dioguardi is Executive Vice President and Professional Lines National Practice Leader at Jencap, where she drives the growth and strategic direction of the firm's management liability, professional liability, and cyber liability practice. A highly respected wholesale broker, industry leader, and recognized thought leader, Deb has dedicated her entire 25+ year career to Jencap, building a reputation as one of the foremost experts in professional lines insurance. Her contributions to the industry have earned national recognition, including the 2023 ACORD Women's Insurance Advancement Award and a place on Insurance Business America's 2025 Hot 100 list. Deb holds a bachelor's degree from the New York Institute of Technology and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Insurance Brokers Association of New York (IBANY).
Kelly Grace, director, advisory – ECS – motor fuels and excise tax at Weaver, has more than 14 years of experience in professional accounting with a focus on complex fuel excise and sales and use tax matters, with experience building, testing, and implementing tax logic for Avalara, IGen, Sabrix, SAP and Right Angle. She is well-versed in planning and directing federal and state motor fuel and sales tax audits. She manages co-sourcing tax compliance projects for companies in all 50 states and researches and advises clients (refineries, fuel terminals, pipeline operators, retail stations, end users) on new and updated state and federal tax laws affecting clients' businesses. She is a CPA in Pennsylvania, a member of the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs, the Pennsylvania Bar and the Federation of Tax Administrations, Motor Fuel Sections. She earned her bachelor of science in accounting and economics from the University of Delaware and her Juris Doctorate from the Temple University Beasley School of Law.
Bob Donnellan is a motor fuel and excise tax expert at IGEN with more than 40 years of industry experience, specializing in compliance, reporting, audit defense and tax system strategy. Over his career, he has advised companies across the fuel supply chain on complex state and federal motor fuel tax issues and helped shape industry best practices through leadership in the Federation of Tax Administrators. He has trained over 1,000 tax professionals and state auditors, served as an expert witness, and played a role in developing innovative tax reporting systems and resources that are still used today. Today, he continues to share his deep industry knowledge as motor fuel tax subject matter expert at IGEN.
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 Tuesday 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.
“It strikes me as it won’t be that difficult to get there,” Neal said.
Neal also said he wants to explore ways to fix state unemployment-insurance distribution systems and to funnel more money to workers in states with low state-level benefits.
Earlier Tuesday, incoming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told his Democratic colleagues that his top priority after his caucus takes control will be COVID-19 emergency-relief legislation. He highlighted boosting direct payments to most Americans to $2,000 from the $600 enacted in December, additional support for vaccine distribution, and help for small businesses, families, schools and state and local governments.
Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said she thinks the House-passed Heroes Act, a $2.2 trillion measure from October — some of which became part of the $900 billion bipartisan compromise enacted in December — would be the framework for an “updated” bill that could pass in a few weeks. She added that paid leave could be part of the bill.
Also on the table: expanded unemployment aid, which runs out in mid-March under the December relief bill, a date that serves as an effective deadline for Congress for the next round.
The money for testing, vaccines, childcare, schools and state and local governments sought by Democrats is generally thought by aides to be excluded from being allowed under the special budget reconciliation process under Senate rules.
The budget tool can be used for fiscal provisions such as raising or cutting taxes, extending unemployment aid, changing Medicare or Medicaid or stimulus payments. It would require Congress to adopt a concurrent budget resolution with specific instructions and then later pass a reconciliation bill with just a simple majority in the Senate.
— With assistance from Jennifer Epstein