Biden Moves Ahead to Fast Track $1.9tn Bill

Biden leaves Republicans behind on a $1.9tn bill rejected their proposal for a slimmed-down $618bn coronavirus relief bill.

US President Joe Biden is forging ahead with plans to ram through a $1.9tn (£1.4tn) relief bill without Republican support after disappointing jobs data.

Despite warnings from an Obama-era economist that the stimulus package is too big, Biden vowed to "act fast".

The new president's fellow Democrats run Congress and plan to pass the final bill using a budget maneuver.

Biden's speech is being seen by US media as a shift in tone after he entered office pledging bipartisanship.

He met 10 Republican senators at the White House on Monday in the hope of a breakthrough, but ultimately rejected their proposal for a slimmed-down $618bn coronavirus relief bill.

The US economy remains 10 million jobs under its level before the Covid-19 pandemic, which has now killed nearly 460,000 Americans.