There's no time to waste. That was the message newly elected Democratic Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock of Georgia delivered Thursday about the COVID-19 rescue package during a private call with their caucus, according to the Washington Post.
Warnock and Ossoff told their colleagues they had delivered the Senate majority on the promise of taking quick action on a new round of $2,000 stimulus checks. While campaigning for the two candidates, President Biden made the same pledge.
The senators' sense of urgency was backed up by Nse Ufot, CEO of the New Georgia Project, during an interview on the The Brief earlier this week. Asked what Democrats needed to do to keep the state's new Democratic voters engaged, Ufot responded, “They want their $2,000 checks.” She also named Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) as a top priority.
Ufot said the desperate moment amid the pandemic and widespread job losses provided an elegant "clarity" about deliverables, and voters weren't looking for treatises about the progressive agenda. "Where's my money?" she said. "Where's my vaccine? Where's my money?"
Biden's $1.9 trillion package calls for $1,400 checks, which will equate to $2,000 when paired with the $600 payments included in the relief package passed last month.
Biden himself appears to have a certain clarity around the urgency of passing his rescue package, telling White House reporters Friday that Democrats wouldn't be waiting around for GOP votes.
“I support passing COVID relief with support from Republicans if we can get it,” Biden said. “But the COVID relief has to pass. No ifs, ands, or buts.”