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A2 UP FRONT
Wednesday 16 december 2020

Talks escalate on new COVID-19 relief, top lawmakers to meet

is a strong compromise that can agree on.” Pelosi has unemployment benefits,
deserves support from both insisted for months that state and local aid, and
Republicans and Demo- state and local aid would the GOP-sought liability
crats in the Senate,” said be in any final bill, but as shield against COVID-19-
Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del. time is running out, Demo- related lawsuits. Lawmak-
“We cannot leave for the crats appear unwilling to ers also worked to finalize
holidays without getting re- hold the rest of the pack- a yearend catchall fund-
lief to those Americans who age hostage over the de- ing package that will be
need it.” The message from mand. Several Democrats the basis for the last sig-
Coons, a confidant of Bi- appeared at a bipartisan nificant legislation of the
den, and a similar message news conference on Mon- Trump presidency. There’s
from Senate Majority Whip day to endorse the $748 bil- a hoped-for deadline of
Dick Durbin, D-Ill., came as lion package. midnight Friday to deliver
a bipartisan group of law- The $748 billion aid pack- the completed package
makers unveiled a detailed age contains money for to President Donald Trump,
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin testifies before a COVID-19 aid proposal in struggling businesses, the which is when a partial gov-
Congressional Oversight Commission hearing on Capitol Hill in hopes it would serve as unemployed, schools and ernment shutdown would
Washington, Thursday Dec. 10, 2020. a model for their battling vaccine distribution. There arrive with the expiration
Associated Press leaders to follow as they try is also $45 billion for trans- of last week’s temporary
Continued from Front have been thrown out of to negotiate a final agree- portation and transit assist- funding bill. But there’s no
balance by the pandemic. ment. But the group was ance, funding for rural in- guarantee that the mas-
The Kentucky Republican Pelosi, D-Calif., pressed in unable to forge a compro- ternet service and help for sive yearend measure will
is playing a strong hand in talks with Mnuchin on Mon- mise on GOP-sought provi- the Postal Service, among be completed in time. If the
the lame-duck session and day for help for struggling sions shielding businesses other provisions. The other talks drag, further tempo-
is pressuring Democrats to states and localities. But from COVID-19-related bill proposes a $160 billion rary bills could be needed.
drop a much-sought $160 top Democratic allies of lawsuits, a key priority of aid package for state and Negotiations on the $1.4
billion aid package for President-elect Joe Biden McConnell. He is pressing local governments and a trillion catchall spending bill
states and local govern- came out in support of a a lowest-common-denomi- modified liability shield that are “essentially finished,”
ments struggling to bal- $748 billion plan offered by nator approach that would is backed by Republicans said a congressional aide
ance their budgets be- a bipartisan group of law- drop the lawsuit shield idea and Democratic moderate participating in the talks.
cause of the pandemic. makers and hinted they for now if Democrats agree Manchin, but it is probably While details are closely
Rank-and-file Democrats won’t insist on a pitched to drop a $160 billion state too politically freighted to held, “the status quo is pre-
appear increasingly re- battle for state and local and local aid package. advance. Outstanding is- vailing.” That means Trump
signed to having to drop, aid now. “We can live to fight an- sues in the leadership talks would get another $1.4
for now, the party’s de- “We cannot afford to wait other day on what we disa- include a potential sec- billion or so for a final in-
mand for fiscal relief for any longer to act. This gree on,” McConnell said ond round of direct pay- stallment to continue con-
states and local govern- should not be Congress’ Tuesday. “But we ought to ments to individuals, a plan struction of his long-sought
ments whose budgets last COVID relief bill, but it go forward with what we for $300-per-week bonus U.S.-Mexico border wall.q

Mrs. Trump visits children’s hospital, a holiday tradition

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE children, who are battling tive officer of the hospital.
Associated Press medical conditions. The first lady sat in a chair
WASHINGTON (AP) — Me- The hospital tweaked the in front of a towering Christ-
lania Trump didn’t let the holiday program to safely mas tree adorning the hos-
coronavirus pandemic accommodate the visit pital’s atrium. Two patients,
break a decades-long tra- during the pandemic, 6-year-old Riley Whitney
dition of first ladies visiting a which has claimed more and 8-year-old Sofia Mar-
Washington children’s hos- than 300,000 lives in the tinez, sat with pillows on a
pital at the holidays. United States. “Mrs. Trump red carpet in front to listen
On Tuesday, she made her has our deep gratitude for to Mrs. Trump read a book
fourth and final holiday visit joining every first lady since about holiday ornaments
as first lady to Children’s Bess Truman in bringing hol- that come to life. In past
National Hospital. iday cheer to children who years, Mrs. Trump read to
During each of her visits, are hospitalized and can’t a big crowd of patients First lady Melania Trump reads a Christmas book to children
Mrs. Trump said she has be home during this special and their families, hospital who are patients at Children’s National Hospital, Tuesday, Dec.
seen that the spirit of Christ- time of the year,” said Dr. staffers and singers and 15, 2020, in Washington.
mas is alive in each of the Kurt Newman, chief execu- dancers.q Associated Press