Manchin says bipartisan coronavirus relief bill will be unveiled Monday

December 14, 2020 3oliver

Sen. Joe ManchinJoseph (Joe) ManchinSunday shows preview: Nation gears up for inoculation following FDA approval of Pfizer vaccine Window quickly closing for big coronavirus deal Bipartisan group unveils new details on COVID-19 relief measure MORE (D-W.V.) said Sunday that the bipartisan Gang of Eight will release a short-term coronavirus relief package Monday.

“The plan is alive and well, and there is no way we’re going to leave Washington without taking care of the emergency needs of our people,” Manchin said on “Fox News Sunday.” “We’ll have a bill produced for the American people tomorrow, $908 billion.”

“The bottom line is there’s a lot of parts to this. … You can’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good,” he added. “We’re trying to get through the toughest first quarter of our country that we’ve ever faced. We’ve got people without nutrition, without shelter. We’ve got people without paychecks that are unemployed. We have health care workers. We have schools that need to be attended to. This covers all of that. This is strictly an emergency measure.”

Manchin acknowledged that “there’s no guarantee” that the measure will pass Congress, adding that “there’s 535 people that have to vote. … I can’t guarantee they’re all going to vote for it and pass it, but I can tell you one thing: What’s the alternative?”

“We’ve done everything we can to put an all-inclusive product together,” he added. “In an emergency situation, we need this legislation.”

During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Sen. Chris CoonsChris Andrew CoonsSunday shows preview: Nation gears up for inoculation following FDA approval of Pfizer vaccine Window quickly closing for big coronavirus deal On The Money: Coronavirus relief talks stall as liability issue foils negotiators | Sanders, Hawley promise fight to secure stimulus checks | Senate passes bill to avert shutdown MORE (D-Del.) said there was “real optimism” surrounding the measure.

“We should not leave for the holidays until we have adopted that $908 billion framework to give a next round of relief to the millions of Americans who are facing eviction, hunger, unemployment, disease. It includes funding for vaccine distribution and $300 billion for small businesses to keep them afloat or help them reopen,” he said.

Fox’s Chris WallaceChristopher (Chris) WallaceSupport grows for stimulus checks, but they may wait Officials anticipate COVID-19 vaccine while warning of dire months ahead Manchin slams Trump for ‘dangerous’ political ‘posturing’ during pandemic MORE also asked Manchin if any of President-elect Joe BidenJoe BidenPro-Trump protestors, counter-protesters and police clash in DC after day of election demonstrations Castro says ‘there’s still work to do’ on Biden Cabinet diversity Robert Zoellick says human rights, European relations to play key roles in Biden foreign policy MORE’s Cabinet nominees “give you heartburn,” noting that Manchin had opposed Vivek MurthyVivek MurthyAsian lawmakers: ‘Unacceptable’ if Biden doesn’t name AAPI Cabinet ‘secretary’ The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – House bucks veto threat to approve defense bill as virus relief in limbo Biden aims for 100 million vaccinations in first hundred days MORE, Biden’s nominee for surgeon general, when he served in the Obama administration.

“I think a president ought to put their team together unless that person has done something wrong or runs totally amok of what I believe,” Manchin responded. “I’m going to look at each one of them. There might be some that I don’t agree with. We haven’t done the personal interviews yet before we confirm. I look forward to that.”