Democrats push new USD 3T coronavirus relief bill through House

Democrats have powered a massive USD 3 trillion coronavirus relief bill through the House, an election-year measure designed to brace a US economy in free fall and a health care system struggling to contain a pandemic still pummelling the country.

The 208-199 vote on Friday, over strong Republican opposition, advances what boils down to a campaign-season display of Democratic economic and health-care priorities.

It has no chance of becoming law as written, but will likely spark difficult negotiations with the White House and Senate Republicans. Any product would probably be the last major COVID-19 response bill before November's presidential and congressional elections.

The enormous Democratic measure would cost more than the prior four coronavirus bills combined. It would deliver almost USD 1 trillion for state and local governments, another round of USD 1,200 direct payments to individuals and help for the unemployed, renters and homeowners, college debt holders and the struggling Postal Service.

"Not to act now is not only irresponsible in a humanitarian way, it is irresponsible because it's only going to cost more," warned House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif."More in terms of lives, livelihood, cost to the budget, cost to our democracy."