Levin Says COVID Relief Package Will Include Lots of “Half-Loaves”
Levin also addresses reports that he is a top candidate to serve in President-elect Biden’s Cabinet as labor secretary.
The country is in the worst shape it’s been in since the pandemic hit in the spring. Nationally, cases and deaths are reaching new highs. And despite the hope of a widely available vaccine coming, there’s no indication the carnage will slow down between now and the spring.
While cases surge, businesses have had to close their doors yet again, putting millions of Americans’ financial well being at risk. In the meantime, Congress has failed for months to pass any significant additional COVID relief bills.
“I think we’ll have some it, it just won’t be as much as we’d like among the House Democrats.” — Rep. Andy Levin (MI-9)
But that could change as soon as this week.
Listen: Rep. Andy Levin (MI-9) talks COVID relief talks and being considered to serve as Biden’s labor secretary
Guest
Congressman Andy Levin is a Democrat from Bloomfield Township representing Michigan’s 9th District. He says the COVID relief bill will likely include many measures House Democrats want, but not in the amount they want.
“It’s going to be half-loaves all over the place, is what I see coming,” Levin tells Stephen Henderson on Detroit Today. “Right now, they’re talking about no more stimulus checks for every family. They’re talking about extending unemployment insurance, but instead of the $600, only $300 a week of supplemental. And, you know, less help for renters, less help for mortgage holders, less help for landlords. We need money in there for the COVID-19 situation, for vaccine distribution, for testing and tracing. I think we’ll have some it, it just won’t be as much as we’d like among the House Democrats.”
On liability shields for businesses against COVID-related lawsuits, Levin says “I personally have been very opposed to that.” He says he will have to see final version of COVID relief package before he will commit to voting for or against it.
“I think Democrats really need to deliver for the working people of this country to change the political dynamic. So it’s an honor to be considered.” — Rep. Andy Levin (MI-9).
Levin is considered a top contender to be asked to serve as President-elect Joe Biden’s U.S. labor secretary. He acknowledges that he’s a candidate for the position, but stopped short of saying he’d take the job if offered.
“It’s an honor to be considered,” says Levin. “I think that President-elect Biden is really focusing appropriately on diversity in so many ways in his Cabinet.”
“The question is, will they have somebody really from the labor movement running the Labor Department?” he continues. “And I’m not the only candidate who is. But there are others. Will they have somebody from the industrial heartland, from the manufacturing base, from the working class areas that Joe Biden actually didn’t win altogether? He made progress there. But I think Democrats really need to deliver for the working people of this country to change the political dynamic. So it’s an honor to be considered. I don’t have any announcements to make.”
Related: Rep. Haley Stevens Says She’s Optimistic About COVID Relief Package
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