Biden calls for ‘urgent’ stimulus to avoiding ‘scarring American workforce’ after ‘grim’ jobs report

JOE Biden has called for “urgent” stimulus to avoiding “scarring American workforce” after “grim” jobs report.

Biden made the comments while speaking at a press conference in Wilmington, Delaware on Friday.

“If we don’t act now, the future will be very bleak,” the president-elect said.

“Congress and President Trump have to get it done for the American people.”

In a statement on Friday, Biden called this wee’s jobs report “grim” and said that it “shows an economy is stalling.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Friday that the US economy added 245,000 jobs in November.

This figure saw a minute change in the unemployment rate, bringing it down by just 0.2 percent from October.

Despite the tally, however, Biden said that “if we act now, I mean now, we may begin to regain momentum.”

He added: “We need more economic relief to bridge through 2021 until this pandemic and economic crisis are over. Then we need to build back better.”

Speaking directly about stimulus packages, Biden admitted: “It’s not going to satisfy everybody but the option is, if you insist on everything you’re likely to get nothing on both sides.”

However, he quickly added: “I made it real clear: this is just a down payment.”

The comments came just hours after Nancy Pelosi raised new hope for a second round of stimulus checks.

On Friday, the House Speaker suggested that the $908billion package is “just a start” according to Biden, following months of negotiations between the Democratic Party and Republicans.

“President-elect Biden has said that this package would ‘just at best, just a start’ and that’s how we see it as well,” Pelosi said.

“It’s less money, but over a shorter period time. And we need to do it to save lives and livelihoods with the hope that much more help is on the way.

“Help is on the way from Joe Biden who sees the need.”

Democrats, including Biden, announced on Wednesday that they were open to a bipartisan coronavirus relief bill.

For months, Democrats have said they wouldn’t budge on the $2.2trillion relief bill they already passed. 

But Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer embraced a $908billion economic relief bill to start negotiations. 

The bill would establish a $300 per week jobless benefit, send $160billion to help state and local governments.

It would also boost schools and universities, revive popular “paycheck protection” subsidies for businesses, and bail out transit systems and airlines.