Member of Parliament Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday that repeated talks on coronavirus would be on the table again if Republicans agreed to a $ 2 trillion relief package.
Asked at her weekly news conference when she would resume relief talks, Pelosi replied: ‘I do not know when they will come up with $ 2 billion. When they are ready to do that, we will sit down. ‘
When asked why the GOP would not “meet in the middle”, Pelosi said, “Maybe you took them wrong for someone who gave a damn.”
Negotiators have been trying for weeks to close the gap between the $ 1 trillion HEALS Act of the House of Representatives and the $ 3.4 trillion HEROES Act of the House.
The White House rejected Pelosi’s offer to reduce its package by $ 1 trillion if Republicans raised $ 1 trillion. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin called a $ 2 trillion price tag “a non-starter.”
STALLED CORONAVIRUS RELIEF NEGOTIATIONS HIT NEW OBSTACLE: STATE AID
White House Chief of Staff M Markows Meadows argued that Pelosi’s offer does not trim fat from the relief package, but instead shortens the timeline.
‘I do not know that this is a reduction, precisely because it simply changes the time frames. I don’t think she came up with her number, other than just making a shorter time, ”Meadows said.
While Democrats do not believe the House would have the votes to pass legislation with a number lower than $ 2 trillion, Republicans say the House would not have the votes to pass a bill with such a high price tag.
“The House of Representatives does not have the votes to go south of $ 2 trillion, the Democrats of the House of Representatives cannot go south of $ 2 trillion, so that is what compromise is all about,” said Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. . “Because there are 20 Republicans who do not want to vote, that does not mean that the whole thing has to move in their direction. You have to meet in the middle. ‘
Sources told CNN that Democrats’ demands for $ 1 trillion for state and local governments had become a major sticking point in negotiations. The House bill does not include any new state and local public funding.
Mnuchin called the $ 1 trillion request from Democrats for states “an absurd number”, saying there was “enough” money available for states and cities.
CORONAVIRUS NEGOTIATION ‘MAKES ME WONDER’ IF DEMS WANTS TO TANK ECONOMY: NAVARRO
Democrats warn that without more federal funding, state and local governments – which together employ about 23.2 million essential workers – will be forced to lay off workers and cut essential services.
The $ 2.2 trillion CARES law passed in late March allocated $ 150 billion to state and local governments. The Treasury Department’s Inspector General’s Office reported in late July that states had spent about a quarter of that money; however, some government officials said the report had no bearing on the money already earmarked for the spending.
President Trump took matters into his own hands last Friday, announcing an executive order with various elements of relief under negotiation. His order demanded $ 400 in extended unemployment benefits through Dec. 6. Or if FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, used to pay for the expansion, falls below $ 25 billion. In addition, his order directs the federal government to identify funds for those who are unable to pay their mortgages, pay taxes and increase relief from student loans.
However, state officials have pointed out that the measure for unemployment benefits requires already state cash to provide 25% of the funds and that it would cost them billions of dollars. Critics also questioned whether the executive orders themselves were legal, given that Congress has the power of the stock market.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
