There is little optimism on both sides of Pennsylvania Avenue that there will be progress on stimulus talks before lawmakers return to Washington in September, as the two sides remain far apart, even on the overall scale of a package, let alone the granular policy details of one.
But the fact that Pelosi and Meadows will talk – after partisan guilt and the last several weeks passed by the press talking to each other – represents the first tangible step towards restarting negotiations since they broke out.
Democrats have pushed for a $ 2 trillion topline that includes nearly $ 1 trillion in support for state and local governments. The White House has firmly opposed that topline price tag and has refused substantial new aid to states and locations.
Pelosi is under pressure from rank-and-file members to resume negotiations with the White House. Nearly half of House Democrats signed a letter last week urging them to pass a bill for unemployment insurance.
On CNN’s ‘State of the Union’ Sunday, Pelosi insisted that her caucus stood together in her approach to negotiating another round of coronavirus relief legislation with the Trump administration.
Pelosi has been opposed to the idea of rolling out aid to a funding measure, arguing that an agreement is needed now.
Democrats have also rejected a piecemeal approach, making it clear that they will not agree with anything that does not address their full view of current needs.
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