Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat on the left, listens as U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, speaks to members of the media after a meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, USA, on Friday, August 7, 2020.
Stefani Reynolds | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Democrats and the Trump administration are “miles apart” over the next round of coronavirus relief, Second Chamber member Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday as the impasse in Washington threatens to send millions into financial ruin.
Pelosi and House Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have not held a meeting with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows since Friday to hash a pandemic aid package. Talks erupted even as the virus spread across the country and Americans struggled to find work after two financial lifelines broke last month.
The speaker did not say on Wednesday when negotiations could start again. Mr Pelosi said he did not want to mess with White House officials again until they agreed to find a middle ground between the Democrats’ more than $ 1 trillion relief package and the proposed $ 1 trillion proposal. and GOP.
“But until they’re ready to do that, it’s no use sitting in a room and letting them know that states should go bankrupt,” the California Democrat told MSNBC, referring to a dispute over sending more aid to states. and municipalities.
“It’s a climb because they do not share our values,” she added.
The White House declined to comment.
On Monday, Mnuchin told CNBC that the Trump administration “is ready to put more money on the table.” He did not say exactly how much more the White House is willing to offer.
Congress has failed to pass on support funds for months because the outbreak is destroying the U.S. health care system and economy. With talks stopped and the House from Washington having the legislation to consider, it could take weeks before another bailout continues.
The Capitol Hill debacle has left millions of people in dire financial straits. A $ 600 per week improved unemployment benefit expired at the end of July. The unemployment rate of the US is still above 10%.
However, markets have continued to rise despite the gridlock and the potential for further economic strife. The three major US averages were at least 0.9% higher on Wednesday afternoon.
A moratorium on evictions from housing with federal support was also passed in late July. Meanwhile, the window to apply for new Paycheck Protection Program loans for small businesses is closed over the weekend.
Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., Told reporters that GOP senators spoke with Mnuchin and Meadows on a daily call and heard that “there was not much new movement,” according to NBC News. He suggested that it could even last until September 30, the deadline to fund the government, to pass on more pandemic relief.
“I hope not,” Blunt replied when asked if September was now a realistic timeline.
Assistance to state and local governments and payments to unemployed Americans are two of the most intractable issues raised in the discussions. The parties are also far apart over money for food aid, rental aid and schools, Pelosi said Wednesday.
In a subsequent letter to House Democrats, Pelosi described major differences between the Democratic bill and the initial legislation of the House of Representatives that was unveiled last month. She said the House Plan included $ 60 billion for food aid, versus $ 250,000 in the GOP proposal.
Pelosi added that the Democratic plan had $ 100 billion for rental and mortgage assistance, while the Republican version had no funds for housing assistance. Democrats have now increased their desired school funding to more than $ 200 billion, up from about $ 100 billion in May. Republicans put $ 105 billion for schools into their legislation, with much of the money tied to schools physically revived.
Complicating matters, several Republicans in the House of Representatives indicated that they would spend $ 1 trillion more on spending.
With talks halted, Trump took over a series of dubious legal executive orders over the weekend to try to provide some relief to Americans.
His moves would extend additional federal unemployment benefits to a level of at least $ 300 a week, encourage his administration to protect people from eviction, maintain existing relief for federal student loan lenders, and make a temporary vacation from the employee tax payroll. .
It is unclear when the unemployment order will be implemented and when states would start paying benefits. But it can take weeks for recipients to receive money.
Trump’s mandates could face legal challenges because Congress controls federal spending. State officials, many of whom have sounded the alarm over budget crises during the pandemic, also worry about their ability to implement the policy.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who did not attend the personal talks with Democrats, on Tuesday pushed the sides to end the “stalemate.”
“I think it’s time for everyone to come to the table again, and let’s get a deal,” the Kentucky Republican said.
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