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Congress fails to agree on the next coronavirus stimulus deal as $600-a-week unemployment benefits expire

  • July 31, 2020

Congressional leaders are now tossing blame for the inevitable expiration of the $600 per week enhanced federal unemployment insurance. The policy ends after Friday, though states stopped paying out the extra benefit last week — leaving millions of Americans facing a sudden and sharp drop in income. 

On Thursday morning, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell accused Democrats of refusing to “engage” with the GOP after it released its coronavirus relief proposal on Monday. Republicans unveiled the plan more than two months after the House passed a rescue package, which Democrats considered their opening offer in the next round of aid discussions. 

“Either our Democratic colleagues come to the table, or the American people won’t get the help they need,” McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said on the Senate floor. 

The sides will have to resolve differences on a range of issues, most notably the unemployment insurance extension. Democrats want to maintain the $600 per week jobless benefit, on top of what recipients get from states, into next year. Republicans want to cut it to $200 per week through September, then set it at 70% wage replacement.

Democrats have also criticized the lack of several other provisions in the GOP plan, including direct aid for state and local governments and funds for rent, mortgage and food assistance. They also oppose liability protections for businesses, doctors and schools, which McConnell has said will have to be in any bill he brings to the Senate floor.

On Thursday, Schumer said the lack of a Republican consensus on pandemic aid has hindered progress toward a deal. Multiple GOP senators have said a large share of the caucus does not support the legislation Republicans released this week

“Our friends on the other side now are scrambling,” he said on the Senate floor. 

As they moved closer to Friday’s deadline without a comprehensive deal, both President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin floated the possibility of passing a short-term deal to extend the unemployment insurance and a federal eviction moratorium on Wednesday.

Schumer and Pelosi have both shot down a temporary fix. 

Even as the progress of talks looked bleak Thursday, Schumer said he believes the parties can still reach a deal. 

“It’s never easy, it’s never painless, but it can be done,” he said.

CNBC’s Terri Cullen contributed to this report.

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Article source: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/30/coronavirus-stimulus-updates-relief-bill-talks-continue.html

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