Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, wears a protective mask as he arrives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, USA, on Tuesday, August 11, 2020.
Stefani Reynolds | Bloomberg | Getty Images
House Speaker Mitch McConnell on Tuesday urged Democrats and the White House to restart coronavirus rallies as an accident swept over millions of supporters to cover bills.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows met last Friday when their negotiations stopped. The sides have not drowned since, even as the expiration of lifelines last month left many Americans with the prospect of financial ruin.
McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, did not attend the talks but set a marker last month when the House of Representatives releases its bill for pandemic. On Tuesday, he told Fox News that “the American people are sick of the stalemate” after another day went by without formal talks between Democrats and the Trump administration.
“I think it’s time for everyone to come to the table again, and let’s get a deal,” he said.
Activity in Congress was only halted when the United States struggled to address the economic and health care crises caused by the pandemic. While the country seeks to curb persistent outbreaks, it has reported more than 5.1 million Covid-19 cases and at least 164,000 deaths due to the disease.
The unemployment rate is above 10%, even after three strong months of job growth.
Congress did not pass a bailout package last month before the expiration of the $ 600-a-week improved federal unemployment benefit and a moratorium on housing evictions supported by the U.S. government. Democrats and Republicans are far apart on how much they want to spend to fight the pandemic.
They have failed to make much progress in resolving problems, including unemployment benefits, aid to state and local governments, money to open schools, and funding for the U.S. Postal Service in a year when Americans will vote by mail. record numbers.
After legislative talks broke down, President Donald Trump took constitutionally dubious executive action to extend certain compensation provisions. His orders would extend additional unemployment benefits to at least $ 300 a week, encourage eviction protection, continue student loan assistance during the pandemic and create a tax break.
But the moves could face legal challenges, as Congress must authorize federal funding. States have also questioned how realistic the unemployment policy is because many states have outdated unemployment benefit systems and have budget cuts.
Democrats have proposed a more than $ 3 trillion relief package, while Republicans have proposed legislation of roughly $ 1 trillion. Pelosi and Schumer have said Mnuchin and Meadows reject offers to hit the middle of the price tag.
Schumer spoke in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, criticizing Schumer Trump for issuing “a band of weak and unworkable executives” instead of participating in talks himself.
He also targeted the multiple Republican senators who opposed any additional aid to coronavirus. He pointed to sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, who said, “I hope the talks continue.”
“They are happy that the negotiations are broken. We are not,” Schumer said.
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