U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) released the following statement on today's vote allowing the budget reconciliation process to move forward as a potential vehicle for passage of a COVID relief bill:
"I believe the best way forward for the next COVID relief bill is a negotiated, bipartisan agreement that reflects the outstanding needs of the American people. To that end, I welcomed seeing the promising bipartisan talks President Biden has hosted at the White House this week. While I am voting yes today on the possible use of the budget reconciliation process to pass another round of COVID relief in March, I hope it doesn't come to that. I strongly prefer that the Biden Administration, the Senate and House leadership make a good-faith attempt to negotiate a bipartisan package before that March timeline.
"In addition, the next COVID package should be focused on the needs related to the pandemic itself, not used as an opportunity to push through consequential issues unrelated to the pandemic. The American people want to know that their government is serious about pandemic relief and is capable of healthy, bipartisan debate and negotiation, and I urge all sides to use these next few weeks to negotiate as such in good faith."
Original source can be found here.
