Saying the GOP's pandemic aid proposal falls short, Maine U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican, says she is working with her colleagues from both parties to craft an additional smaller pandemic aid package that could be considered this week.Several Republican senators are pushing for a $500 billion package that would include some money for the Postal Service, a federal unemployment benefit bonus of roughly $300 a week, liability protections for schools and businesses, and more money for hospitals and testing.
Collins says that is not enough. “I have started reaching out and talking to some of my friends on the other side of the aisle to see what their areas of agreement might be.”
Collins would like to see a targeted continuation of the Paycheck Protection Program, aid to schools and to state and local governments. “This isn’t over and we do need another coronavirus package, and we do need to meet a lot of needs.”
Collins says the Senate should come back into session and vote on items one by one to help jump start the economy.
