Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., says Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package is a "non-starter."
"I suspect the whole package is a non-starter, but there are plenty of starters in it," Blunt told reporters Thursday.
The House is planning to bring a coronavirus relief bill to a vote the first week of February. The legislation, which includes enhanced jobless benefits, direct cash payments to struggling households, expanded paid leave and increases in the child care tax credit, will likely need bipartisan support to clear procedural hearings.
Democrats hold the Senate majority because Vice President Kamala Harris can break any ties.
"A lot of them are things that we proposed in terms of more assistance to the states," Blunt said. "I think we're ready to look at what it takes to move forward as effectively and quickly as we can on vaccine distribution, on securing what we need for the future in terms of [the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention].
"There are some things in there that aren't going to happen and there are some things that can happen," he added.
Biden plans to meet with congressional leaders soon on how to move the package forward, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday.