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A28 u.s. news
Diabierna 2 OctOber 2020

Democrats press ahead on partisan COVID bill as talks drag

a hard line so far. But she's
never had a reputation for
leaving large sums of money
on the table and her tactical
position — facing a White
House and Senate controlled
by Republicans — is not as
strong as her demands tactics
might indicate.
The White House also seems
far more eager for a deal
than Senate Majority Lead-
er Mitch McConnell. Any
compromise that could pass
both the House and Senate is
sure to alienate a large chunk
of the Senate GOP. McCon-
nell expressed support for the
talks and another bill but isn't
leaning into the effort.

“I’d like to see another res-
cue package. We’ve been try-
ing for months to get there,"
McConnell told report-
ers Thursday. “I wish them
well." Even if Pelosi and
Mnuchin were able to reach
a tentative agreement on “top
line" spending levels, dozens
of details would need to be
worked out. A particularly
difficult issue, Pelosi told her
(AP) — With top Washington airlines are furloughing about for the struggling airline Pelosi told reporters, citing colleagues earlier in the day,
negotiators significantly apart 30,000 workers with the ex- industry. Both areas are of the “opportunity cost" for remains McConnell's insis-
on a huge COVID-19 re- piration of aid passed earlier great interest to Democrats' provisions sought by Demo- tence on a liability shield for
lief bill, Democrats control- this year, and a report Thurs- union backers. Details on crats but potentially lost in businesses fearing COVID-
ling the House are plunging day showed 837,000 people the White House offer were any rush to agreement. At related lawsuits after they re-
ahead with a partisan debate claiming jobless benefits for confirmed by congressional issue is a long-delayed pack- open their doors.
on their next option a $2.2 the first time last week. Most aides, speaking on condi- age that would extend an-
trillion measure that's anath- of the economic benefits of tion of anonymity to discuss other round of $1,200 direct The latest Democratic bill
ema to the White House and an immediate round of CO- closed-door discussions. As stimulus payments, restore would revive a $600-per-
Capitol Hill Republicans. VID relief could accrue un- the talks dragged on, House bonus pandemic jobless ben- week pandemic jobless ben-
der the next administration, leaders announced a Thurs- efits, speed aid to schools and efit and send a second round
Thursday's vote was chiefly and failure now could mean day evening vote on their extend assistance to airlines, of direct payments to most
sought by moderate Demo- no significant help for strug- scaled-back “HEROES Act," restaurants and other strug- individuals. It would scale
crats who say the party needs gling families and businesses which started out as a $3.4 gling businesses. A landmark back an aid package to state
to display greater flexibility. until February. trillion bill in May but is now $2 trillion relief bill in March and local governments to a
But the end result was a par- down to $2.2 trillion after Pe- passed with sweeping support still-huge $436 billion, send
tisan debate around the leg- While the offer from losi cut back her demands for and is credited with helping $225 billion to colleges and
islation that was expected to Mnuchin on unemploy- aiding state and local govern- the economy through the universities and deliver an-
end with a mostly party-line ment is higher than the $300 ments. The legislation came spring and summer, but wor- other round of subsidies to
vote, leaving lawmakers no per week benefit backed by after party moderates openly ries are mounting that the businesses under the Pay-
closer to an outcome. conservative Republicans, criticized her stance. recovery may sputter without check Protection Program.
Voting on the $2.2 trillion his price tag of $1.6 trillion additional relief. Airlines would get another
plan came after a burst of ne- or more could drive many White House Chief of Staff $25 billion in aid to prevent a
gotiations this week between Republicans away, even as Mark Meadows cautioned Pelosi has largely assumed wave of layoffs.
Treasury Secretary Steven it fails to satisfy Pelosi. “We late Wednesday that Trump
Mnuchin and House Speaker raised our offer to $1.6 tril- won't approach a $2 trillion
Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. The lion," White House Press threshold. But there's plenty
Trump administration deliv- Secretary Kayleigh McEna- of wiggle room in numbers
ered concessions Wednesday, ny told reporters Thursday. so large, and the revenue pic-
including a $400 per week “It’s one that she is is not ture for many states is not
pandemic jobless benefit and interested in." Mnuchin and as alarming as feared when
a markedly higher overall Pelosi spoke by phone early Democrats passed more than
price tag of $1.6 trillion, but Thursday afternoon, but the $900 billion for state and lo-
that failed to win over Pelosi. speaker was publicly dismis- cal governments in May.
sive of the latest White House Mnuchin has described the
“This isn’t half a loaf, this is plan. Further conversations talks as the first serious dis-
the heel of the loaf,” Pelosi are likely, Pelosi spokesman cussions with Pelosi in sev-
said in a televised interview Drew Hammill said. eral weeks.
Thursday. Pelosi spoke after Pelosi said Thursday that
the White House attacked The White House plan, the administration is still
her as “not being serious." offered Wednesday, gave far short on aid to state and
The ramped-up negotia- ground with a $250 billion local governments and in
tions come as challenging proposal on funding for state other areas. “Some of you
economic news continues to and local governments and have asked, ‘Isn't something
confront policymakers. The backed $20 billion in help better than nothing?' No,"