Advertisement
Joe Biden goes to US heartland for support on US$1.9 trillion economic package
- Biden will address ordinary voters at a prime time CNN event in Milwaukee – his first official trip away from Washington as president
- His administration says massive injections of money, including US$1,400 cheques, are vital to preventing a sluggish economic recovery from stalling altogether
Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
1
US President Joe Biden is sidestepping a divided Congress and going straight to the nation on Tuesday with a televised town hall in Wisconsin seeking support for his US$1.9 trillion economic rescue package.
Advertisement
With lawmakers reeling from the aftermath of Donald Trump’s impeachment acquittal, Biden is betting that he can escape the partisan stand-off by addressing ordinary voters at the prime time CNN event in Milwaukee – his first official trip away from Washington as president.
The White House said the live show will see Biden “take questions directly from the American people on issues they are facing every day, such as Covid and the economy”.
Biden’s stimulus package would more than double the previous measure passed by Congress, after intense debate, in December.
The administration says massive injections of money, including US$1,400 cheques sent to many Americans, are vital to preventing a sluggish economic recovery from stalling altogether.
Another major goal of the spending spree is to boost the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out – a logistical, medical and financial challenge upon which Biden’s entire first term may hang.
01:50
Joe Biden says China will ‘eat our lunch’ on infrastructure
Joe Biden says China will ‘eat our lunch’ on infrastructure
But the stimulus bill’s price tag, as well as some of the spending details, leaves most Republicans in Congress sceptical.
Advertisement
Advertisement