Bernie Sanders Proposes Canceling Student Loans and Approving $ 2,000 Stimulus Checks Without Republican Support | The State

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Sanders argued this week that Congress can implement a comprehensive economic agenda without Republican support. The politician says the Democrats, who control both Congress and the White House, can pass legislation that includes the following:

–$ 2,000 in stimulus checks.
–Cancellation of student loans.
– $ 600 per week of unemployment insurance.
–Fully funded emergency medical care, Covid-19 testing, tracking and distribution of vaccines.
–12 weeks of paid family and medical leave.
–University without enrollment in public colleges and universities.
–A minimum wage of $ 15 dollars.

While Congress can pass independent legislation or incorporate these policies into Biden’s proposed new stimulus package, Sanders says there is a simpler and more efficient way.

The politician, who is the incoming chairman of the United States Senate Budget Committee, says that Democrats can use the budget reconciliation process if Republicans are unwilling to pass bipartisan legislation.

Budget reconciliation was created under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and is used in the United States Senate to speed up legislation on spending, revenue or debt, as reported in Forbes.

Sanders notes that during the administrations of Donald Trump and George W. Bush, Republicans used the budget reconciliation process (which only requires a simple majority) to pass major tax breaks, and that they could now do the same to pass a new stimulus package.

It is not yet known whether lawmakers will follow this path or try to negotiate with Republicans to pass the president’s package.