Vox Sentences - The $680 billion stimulus counteroffer

Ten Senate Republicans have released a stimulus plan about one-third the size of Biden’s; the military has taken control in Myanmar.

Tonight's Sentences was written by Gabby Birenbaum.

• Ten Senate Republicans revealed their counteroffer to President Biden’s coronavirus stimulus plan Monday, proposing a $618 billion bill — far smaller than the $1.9 trillion bill Biden wants to pass. [Politico / Burgess Everett]
• The Republicans are meeting with Biden Monday to discuss their proposal. By putting together a group of 10, the Republicans have theoretically created a filibuster-proof majority for their deal, if all 50 Democrats were to support it. [NPR / Barbara Sprunt]
• Notable differences between the Republican and Biden packages include $1,000 checks, instead of $1,400, going to a smaller pool of people; a $300 weekly unemployment benefit instead of $400; and no funding for state and local governments. [CNBC / Jacob Pramuk]
• The Republican senators see their bill as a chance for Biden to prove he is interested in bipartisanship and unity. But the president has made clear that passing stimulus is more critical than getting Republican support. [AP / Aamer Madhani, Lisa Mascaro, and Josh Boak]
• Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, on the other hand, intends to push Biden’s package through beginning this week using budget reconciliation. He said the lack of state and local aid makes the Republican bill a nonstarter, and reiterated he would not let Republicans hold up aid. [New York Daily News / Michael McAuliff]
• Democratic leadership has not forgotten the process it went through to pass the 2009 recovery act, which they spent months diluting to create a bipartisan effort, only for 99 percent of Republicans to vote against it. It's a mistake they say they will not make again. [MSNBC / Steve Benen]
• Underscoring the urgency of the debate are looming expiration dates for a number of federal coronavirus programs, and the campaign promises Democrats in Georgia made to pass $2,000 checks. [Vox / Anya van Wagtendonk]
• There is potential for the coronavirus bill to be split. The moderate Blue Dog Democrats will meet with the White House on Tuesday with the intent to promote an initial bill securing vaccine and stimulus check funding while the budget reconciliation process is ongoing. [Politico / Olivia Beavers]