President-elect Joe Biden will seek a deal with Republicans on another round of COVID-19 relief, rather than attempting to ram a package through without their support, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The approach could mean a smaller initial package that features some priorities favored by Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell. The idea is to forgo using a special budget process that would remove the need to get the support of at least 10 Republicans in the Senate, which will be split 50-50 and under Democratic control only thanks to the vice president’s vote.
Henry Kowal is Director of Product Management at Arity, where he is responsible for emerging aspects of Arity’s Insurance product strategy, including Arity IQ. He joined from The Hartford, where he defined the telematics strategy and roadmap for the Personal Lines Auto business. He also oversaw the design, implementation, and management of the new smartphone telematics program offered to The Hartford’s AARP policyholders in over 40 states.
Isabelle leads a team of over 12,000 industry professionals committed to helping insurers transform and reshape their business models through EY audit, business consulting, tax and corporate finance services. She’s committed to bringing the support and confidence of the firm to help businesses thrive in the new transformative age.
She has over 30 years of experience working with large financial services organizations. Previously, she held the role of Assurance Managing Partner for EY EMEIA Financial Services and before that, held the role of Global Assurance COO based in London. Since 2000, she has served as the lead partner for large international financial institutions headquartered in France or in Europe, whether audit or non-audit clients.
In addition to her work with EY, Isabelle is an active contributor to the discussion shaping the sustainability agenda in the insurance industry and is a board member of Positive Planet, a non-profit organization.
She received a master’s degree in Management from ESCP.
Laurén Robbins To is vice president and general manager of financial services at ServiceNow.
Biden transition staff briefed aides to congressional Democrats on Tuesday about the plans to work with the GOP and not use so-called budget reconciliation in an initial stimulus package.
The briefing came a day after former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle urged his party to give McConnell “reasons to be cooperative,” which would unlock greater legislative achievements.
Biden last week talked of a multitrillion-dollar economic package, but this could now come in stages.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, who’s been speaking with the Biden transition team, said in an interview Tuesday that he would like to see infrastructure spending included in the stimulus package, and that he would be on board with a $2 trillion package.
“It strikes me as it won’t be that difficult to get there,” Neal said.
Neal also said he wants to explore ways to fix state unemployment-insurance distribution systems and to funnel more money to workers in states with low state-level benefits.
Earlier Tuesday, incoming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told his Democratic colleagues that his top priority after his caucus takes control will be COVID-19 emergency-relief legislation. He highlighted boosting direct payments to most Americans to $2,000 from the $600 enacted in December, additional support for vaccine distribution, and help for small businesses, families, schools and state and local governments.
Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said she thinks the House-passed Heroes Act, a $2.2 trillion measure from October — some of which became part of the $900 billion bipartisan compromise enacted in December — would be the framework for an “updated” bill that could pass in a few weeks. She added that paid leave could be part of the bill.
Also on the table: expanded unemployment aid, which runs out in mid-March under the December relief bill, a date that serves as an effective deadline for Congress for the next round.
The money for testing, vaccines, childcare, schools and state and local governments sought by Democrats is generally thought by aides to be excluded from being allowed under the special budget reconciliation process under Senate rules.
The budget tool can be used for fiscal provisions such as raising or cutting taxes, extending unemployment aid, changing Medicare or Medicaid or stimulus payments. It would require Congress to adopt a concurrent budget resolution with specific instructions and then later pass a reconciliation bill with just a simple majority in the Senate.
— With assistance from Jennifer Epstein