The Trump administration is seeking an opportunity to pass on a slimmed-down coronavirus package in the coming days as House lawmakers return to Washington for a vote on funding from the Postal Service, according to a White House official.
Alderman Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, with reporters on Wednesday, suggested that both sides come closer to cutting a two-part relief deal after Speak Nancy Pelosi recalled the House for a rare vote on Saturday on a $ 25 billion bill. and US Postal Service.
“I think the prospect of a lean deal is better than it has ever been, and yet we are not there yet,” Meadows told reporters on Wednesday. “If Speaker Pelosi advances one single bill … let’s add the things we can agree on.”
First Republicans plan this week to renew the push for an agreement between the two sides with the introduction of a smaller support package.
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The smaller GOP relief is expected to include $ 300 in additional weekly federal unemployment benefits through Dec. 27, another round of money for the Paycheck Protection Program and an additional $ 10 billion for the U.S. Postal Service and liability protections, according to Politico. two GOP sources. The proposal would also allocate additional funding for schools and education.
The revised measure would represent a scaled-down version of the $ 1 trillion HEALS Act introduced by Republicans at the end of July. But the new proposal specifically does not include a second $ 1,200 incentive check for American families, contrary to the HEALS Act.
One of the biggest points of controversy between the parties is the cost of the proposal. Democrats have pledged $ 1 trillion down from the roughly $ 3 trillion package passed by the House in May. But the White House and Republican leaders want to keep the price tag closer to $ 1 trillion amid growing concerns about the nation’s growing deficit.
Meadows suggested that White House and Democratic officials could negotiate “things we can agree on” – including funding for schools, the Paycheck Protection Program and “maybe even the incentive checks” – before focusing on others, more divisive measures.
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Pelosi appeared on Tuesday to support a pared-down bill during a Politico Playbook event.
“We are ready to cut our bill in half to meet the needs right now,” she said. “We’ll pick it up again in January.” However, her spokeswoman said she was referring to Democrats’ previous $ 2 trillion offer to meet Republicans halfway, “not to cut our bill in half,” according to Bloomberg News.
Still, Pelosi said the negotiators “should try to reach that agreement now.”
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., Predicted on Wednesday that the two sides would work together to reach a deal after the Republican National Convention next week, with a deal possible after Labor Day.
“I actually think there will be some motive to really get down to the brass pieces right after the Republican convention,” Kaine told Politico. “It was clear to the White House that, for some reason, they wanted to enter into their convention to accuse Democrats.”
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The First Chamber has been appointed to return from the recession on September 8 and the House on September 14.
