| Senate Democrats move to pass coronavirus relief; Italy looks toward a new leader. Tonight's Sentences was written by Gabby Birenbaum. | | | | | | | On stimulus, Democrats turn to budget reconciliation | | | | | Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call Inc./Getty Images | | - After 10 Senate Republicans pitched President Biden on a significantly smaller coronavirus deal, he made his position to Senate Democrats clear: They have the green light to go big. [Washington Post / Erica Werner, Jeff Stein, and Seung Min Kim]
- Democrats voted Tuesday to open debate on a budget resolution that would create room for Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus package, the first step toward passing a bill via budget reconciliation. [Roll Call / Paul M. Krawzak]
- Using budget reconciliation means Senate Democrats can pass the bill without Republicans, with one important caveat: All 50 members need to support the bill, which is no easy feat in an ideologically diverse caucus. [ABC News / Meredith Deliso and Trish Turner]
- Biden does not want to begin his administration with a broken promise, and has prioritized ensuring $1,400 checks are included in the bill. He has said he is open to further means-testing the check eligibility pool. [Politico / Sarah Ferris, Caitlin Emma, and Heather Caygle]
- Important moderates, including centrist Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), have announced support for the $1.9 trillion price tag. But Manchin also said he does not support a progressive plank of the bill — a $15 minimum wage. [NYT / Luke Broadwater and Jim Tankersley]
- Manchin's dissent could doom the minimum wage hike if he sticks to his statement. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has been working to include it in the bill, commissioning a study of its benefits and arguing it can be included in the reconciliation process, as a budgetary measure. [Politico / Caitlin Emma]
- Biden's blessing was a boon to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who, worried about a primary challenge from the left, wants a progressive bill that includes state and local aid. [The Hill]
- Individual stimulus checks and a large aid package are also just popular policies. A new poll shows a majority of Americans want speedy aid, and don't mind if budget reconciliation is used to achieve it. [Vox / Li Zhou]
- Biden has said he believes some Republicans will end up voting for the bill, and his openness to shrinking the individual stimulus check pool was in response to Republican questioning. But his priority remains passing large, timely legislation. [NPR / Deirdre Walsh]
| | | Italians call on "Super Mario" Draghi to form a government | | - Former European Central Bank head Mario Draghi was largely credited with saving the euro during the continent's debt crisis. Now he's being called home to take on another institution in crisis: the Italian government. [WSJ / Marcus Walker and Giovanni Legorano]
- Italy's president has asked Draghi to take control after former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte stepped down over his inability to form a governing coalition, underscoring deep polarization in the country, Europe's third-largest economy. [NYT / Jason Horowitz]
- Italy stands at an inflection point, with vaccine distribution and a steep recession posing challenges. But it also stands to gain enormous amounts of funding from the EU if the country can get a spending plan approved. Draghi's potential leadership has already had a positive impact on financial markets. [AP / Nicole Winfield and Colleen Barry]
- Matteo Renzi, the leader of the center-left Italia Viva party, triggered the Italian government's collapse when he withdrew his party's support for the populist Conte. Renzi has backed Draghi, which could facilitate his formation of a technocratic government if he can bring together the left, center left, center right, and some populists. [CNBC / Silvia Amaro]
- Draghi might be the only politician in Italy who could form a government in such polarized times, but it will still prove challenging. If he cannot, Italy will hold elections — and polls show an alliance between the right and far right could have enough votes to form a ruling coalition. [Washington Post / Chico Harlan]
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