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U.S. NEWS Saturday 12 december 2020

Congress averts shutdown, buys time for more COVID-19 talks

By LISA MASCARO and cost plan from Senate Re- partisan group, but it was
ANDREW TAYLOR publicans that has failed rejected by Republicans,
Associated Press twice. The idea of another according to a Senate
WASHINGTON (AP) — Con- round of cash but has been aide granted anonymity to
gress sent a temporary embraced by some of the discuss the private session.
government-wide fund- president's fiercest critics — The Trump administration is
ing bill to President Donald including Rep. Alexandria back in the middle of the
Trump on Friday that would Ocasio-Cortez, D-N,Y., and negotiations with a $916
avert a federal shutdown Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. billion plan. It would send
at midnight and buy time "We're not going to go a $600 direct payment to
for on-again, off-again home for the Christmas most Americans but elimi- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, speaks
talks on COVID-19 aid. holidays unless we make nate a $300-per-week em- during a news conference following a weekly meeting with the
The bill sets a new deadline sure that we provide for ployment benefit favored Senate Republican caucus, Tuesday, Dec. 8. 2020 at the Capitol
of midnight next Friday. The the millions of families in this by the bipartisan group of in Washington.
short-term measure passed country who are suffering," Senate negotiators.q Associated Press
the Senate by a unanimous Sanders said. House Speak-
voice vote without much er Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.,
drama and sent senators said Congress would keep
home for the weekend working up to or even after
without a clear picture of Christmas to get an agree-
what awaits next week. ment. The new Congress is
The House passed the bill being sworn in on Jan. 3.
Wednesday. Trump was The $900 billion-plus pro-
expected to sign it before posal provides sweeping
midnight. new funds for vaccines,
The talks are stalled but small businesses, health
there is universal agree- care providers, schools
ment that Congress won't and families suffering from
adjourn for the year with- the virus crisis and the eco-
out passing a long-delayed nomic shutdowns.
round of pandemic relief. A key hold up has been the
An emerging $900 billion standoff over more money
aid package from a bipar- for the states, that Demo-
tisan group of lawmakers crats - and some Republi-
hit a rough patch after Sen- cans - want and the liability
ate Majority Leader Mitch shield that is McConnell's
McConnell, R-Ky., swung top GOP priority but that
against the effort. Still, ne- most Democrats oppose.
gotiations are ongoing The bipartisan group tried
anthe d pressure remains to marry those two provi-
intense. The House has re- sions as a compromise.
cessed for a few days, with McConnell had initially pro-
leaders warning members posed a five-year liability
to be prepared to return to shield from virus lawsuits,
Washington to vote on the retroactive to Decem-
year-end deals. ber 2019, but the biparti-
Negotiators on a separate san group was eyeing a
$1.4 trillion catchall spend- scaled-back shield of six
ing bill appeared to be months to a year. Labor
moving in a positive direc- and civil rights groups op-
tion, said the chairman of pose any shield, which they
the Senate Appropriations say strips essential workers
Committee, Sen. Rich- of potential legal recourse
ard Shelby, R-Ala.. This bill as they take risks during the
would serve as a vehicle to pandemic.
carry any year-end virus as- Democratic leaders had
sistance. wanted far more in state
The breakdown over the and local aid, but were ac-
aid package is a Capitol Hill cepting of the lower $160
head-scratcher. Trump has billion.
renewed a push for a fresh But many Republicans
round of stimulus checks for have long viewed the state
Americans, proposing $600 and local aid as a bailout
per individual rather than they would have trouble
the $1,200 that was sent supporting, despite the
out this spring. Cost con- pleas for funds coming
cerns are responsible for from governors and mayors
the smaller amount. nationwide.
Sending direct cash pay- Late Thursday, Sen. Dick
ments to households was Durbin and other Demo-
not included in the bipar- crats pitched another li-
tisan proposal or a lower ability proposal to the bi-