Progress on the latest coronavirus relief legislation came to a halt following Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) decision to adjourn for summer recess. McConnell made the decision on Thursday and announced they will have their “regular pro forma meetings through the end of the state work period.”
According to Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Democrats and the White House are miles apart when it comes to the next round of virus relief. On Wednesday, the House speaker confirmed she and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) haven’t met with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin or Chief of Staff Mark Meadows since Friday.
President Trump said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer want to discuss coronavirus relief again. In a tweet Monday, the president was critical of the leading Democrats and cited previous negotiations with the White House.
Negotiations have continued between the White House and Democrat leaders about the next coronavirus relief bill. One America’s Stephanie Myers spoke with senior fellow at the National Taxpayers Union, Mattie Duppler, about some of the provisions at the forefront of the discussions.
Democrats in Congress have said they are making progress on passing the coronavirus relief bill despite polarizing view points.
President Trump said he wants to extend emergency unemployment benefits in the next stimulus package. During an interview Tuesday, he noted that the people who have lost their jobs amid the pandemic shouldn’t be blamed for requiring assistance.
Enhanced unemployment benefits are set to expire on Friday, yet Congress continues to debate what will be included in the upcoming coronavirus relief bill.
The GOP is reportedly looking at a “Plan B” amid stalled talks over the next coronavirus relief package. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) confirmed the move on Wednesday and noted there’s no consensus on what an alternative would look like just yet.
According to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the White House and GOP are “very far apart” from Democrats on negotiations over the latest coronavirus relief bill.