Utah’s Morning News: After Biden meeting, Romney urges focused stimulus spending
Feb 2, 2021, 3:04 PM | Updated: 4:21 pm
SALT LAKE CITY — Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) said his meeting with President Biden on Monday showed that Mr. Biden is willing to listen to views from the other side of the political aisle, but that it is too early to know whether Democrats will accept an alternate plan for COVID-19 relief.
Romney along with nine other Republican senators met with President Biden at the White House to discuss their proposal in detail.
The Republican proposal is much smaller than that which President Biden has proposed.
Romney told Utah’s Morning News that the Republican alternative is more targeted:
“I don’t want to just send out billions of dollars to states to use like a slush fund,” Romney said. “Whether that’s our state or anyone else’s.”
Romney hopeful after meeting with President Biden
Since the beginning of the global pandemic in early 2020, Congress has passed five bipartisan COVID-19 relief bills, which in total have provided more than $4 trillion in COVID-19 relief to American businesses and individuals.
President Biden’s proposal would spend an additional $1.9 trillion. The Senators who met with Mr. Biden on Monday proposed a plan that would cost $618 billion.
“Ther has to be some consideration about how much debt we’re taking on,” Sen. Romney said. “Unfortunately, even during good years when we [Republicans] were in charge, we were adding to the deficit. So we don’t have a lot of standing on that in the public’s eye.”
Senator Romney also told KSL Newsradio the money should be spent on what he said is absolutely needed, including PPE, helping small businesses stay afloat, and helping those with very low income to get some help.
“Those things are critical,” Romney said.
How To Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus
COVID-19 coronavirus spreads person to person, similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:
- Wash hands frequently and thoroughly, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.
- Don’t touch your face.
- Wear a mask to protect yourself and others per CDC recommendations.
- Keep children and those with compromised immune systems away from someone who is coughing or sneezing (in this instance, at least six feet).
- If there is an outbreak near you, practice social distancing (stay at home, instead of going to the movies, sports events, or other activities).
- Get a flu shot.
Local resources
Utah’s Coronavirus Information
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Utah Coronavirus Information Line – 1-800-456-7707
National Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
