A few hours later on Wednesday, Pelosi sought to claim an initial victory, arguing that Republicans have significantly changed their thinking since calling for a “pause” when the House passed its bill in May. But the California Democrat also made clear what McConnell is proposing right now is not good enough.
“It is recognized that there will be an invoice,” Pelosi told reporters. “They went from zero to now $ 1.3 [trillion]. That is not enough, we need more. But we see the public evolution of his thinking. “
Pelosi said the huge Democrats bill largely does not need to be adjusted, even as coronavirus cases have skyrocketed in most states in the past month. But Democrats could push for extra money for education in the current talks, as President Donald Trump continues to demand the reopening of schools in the fall.
“We put our marker on the table. He is very disciplined, he is not more than what we need ”, said Pelosi. “Although, I must say that we may need more for education now that the president is making the demand that he is making.”
While Congress has already injected more than $ 2.5 billion in coronavirus relief into the economy through four bills, including a giant $ 2 billion rescue package in March, McConnell has acknowledged that another deal will be more difficult to reach. bipartisan given the political climate.
With 111 days to go before the election, McConnell must rule a divided group, with a number of Senate Republicans shunning additional government spending, while vulnerable members in 2020 are calling for something to be done before the August recess.
Both sides know that the next coronavirus package is likely to be the last before the November election, increasing pressure to cut demands before returning home on the campaign trail amid a pandemic-induced recession.
“If McConnell has any hope of holding on to his majority, he has to show leadership and responsiveness and he can’t do it by writing a bill just for Republicans,” said Sen. Chris Coons (Democrat). having to find bipartisan answers to these problems. “
Senate Democrats have spent weeks criticizing McConnell for not acting sooner. During a caucus call this week, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.) told members that McConnell has yet to have contact and insisted that Senate Democrats will only negotiate if House Democrats They are involved, according to a source in the call.
“Senator McConnell should be working across the hall to prevent mass evictions, a new hunger crisis, and the firing of more essential state and local employees, all of which will happen if Republicans continue to delay action or act stingily,” he warned. Schumer. in a statement to POLITICO.
A Republican Senate aide seemed surprised that his own party was blocking more coronavirus relief spending just over 100 days from an election where the majority is clearly in jeopardy and the economy is weak.
“Generally, the minority is blocking the bills before an election, not the majority,” the aide complained. “It is as if they are offering us cake, but we say, ‘No, we want the broccoli.'”
But Republican Senate leaders say much of the money allocated in the March CARES bill has yet to be spent, and they want the next package to be more specific.
While McConnell has told colleagues that he wants to keep the price of the package at around $ 1 trillion, some in his caucus are willing to spend more if necessary.
In an interview, Senator Lindsey Graham (RS.C.) predicted that the next package “probably won’t” be as big as the $ 2 billion CARES package. But Graham added he wants to “go big” and consider proposals like infrastructure or a payroll tax cut, which appear to have limited support among the Republican group.
“What is different with Phase 4 and Phase 3? Phase 4 is all about boosting the economy, building on the drive to get back to work, ”said Graham. “Phase 3 was a rescue package, Phase 4 should be a stimulus package.”
In a sign of the difficulties facing Congress, lawmakers cannot even agree on what round of relief they are currently negotiating. Some classify the latest $ 484 billion relief bill passed in April as just an “interim” measure, and describe the current talks as “phase 4”. Other members refer to this round as “phase 5” because it will be the fifth coronavirus-focused bill.
Key points will address the additional $ 600 in weekly unemployment benefits in the March CARES Act. Democrats want to see those benefits spread and are suggesting linking unemployment benefits to economic conditions. Senate Republicans, however, say the increase in unemployment benefits provides a disincentive for people to return to work.
A potential commitment could focus on “return to work” incentives. Still, the fringe benefits for most people are likely to expire, at least temporarily, before an agreement is reached. While the March law authorizes fringe benefits until the end of the month, the money will effectively stop being paid on July 25 in the way that most state unemployment systems are established.
House Democrats are also pushing to push food aid, another round of stimulus checks on people, and nearly $ 1 trillion in state and local assistance, something not a start for most Senate Republicans. .
In addition to the uncertainty, what message will the White House send to Cerro. Trump is making reopening schools a key focus, even going so far as to suggest he will withhold federal funds from schools that did not reopen, a threat that has outraged Democrats.
Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) Said in an interview that he wants to see schools reopen, but noted that “school expenses don’t go away because you’re teaching distance, rather than teaching. In a classroom. ”
Blunt, who is also working with Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) On bills to finance the government for the upcoming fiscal year, added that “100 days before a presidential election, almost everything is a political issue.”
