Thoughts on new coronavirus-related aid package fall on party lines when it comes to Wisconsin’s United States senators. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell proposed the approximately $500 billion bill earlier this week, which is about one-seventh of the amount requested in the House-sponsored HEROES Act that passed four months ago. The bill before the Senate included an extension of a federal unemployment benefit and more money for the Paycheck Protection Program, schools, and coronavirus testing. Democrats like Senator Tammy Baldwin says the bill does not go far enough to recognize the struggles caused by the pandemic on the economy and Wisconsin families compared to the $3.4 trillion HEROES Act.

Republicans like Senator Ron Johnson says the bill takes into consideration the billions of dollars unused in previous bills. He is also happy there will be more transparency in the PPP loan distribution process so the businesses that are really hurting get the money they need.

The bill faces an uphill climb in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives where Speaker Nancy Pelosi has already said it does not come close to addressing the problems and is heading nowhere. 

UPDATE

The bill ended up failing in Senate 52,-47 mostly along party lines.