Pelosi, Mnuchin renew talks as Democrats release $2.2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill
Republicans have in particular fought against sending additional relief to states and municipalities. The White House has proposed $150 billion in new aid to states and localities.
The push to rejuvenate stimulus talks follows growing doubts about Congress’ ability to approve another aid package before the Nov. 3 election, when both parties will try to at least keep control of a chamber of Congress. Political considerations played a huge role in the discussions, even before the Senate started wrestling over whether to confirm President Donald Trump‘s Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett before the election.
Many Republicans have expressed concerns about adding to the trillions the U.S. has already spent to fight the pandemic and ensuing economic damage. The GOP-held Senate tried to pass a roughly $500 billion aid plan earlier this month, but Democrats blocked it, calling the bill inadequate.
The fight over more relief comes as the U.S. still struggles to contain its coronavirus outbreak. New cases were growing by 5% or more on a weekly basis in 30 U.S. states as of Monday.
While the U.S. enjoyed several straight months of strong jobs growth after widespread layoffs in the spring, the country still had an 8.4% unemployment rate in August. On Thursday, the Labor Department said initial jobless claims rose in the previous week.
As Congress failed to pass legislation this summer, Trump took limited executive actions to extend supplemental unemployment benefits, eviction protections and student loan assistance.
Article source: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/29/pelosi-mnuchin-set-to-talk-as-.html