Stimulus talks: White House, Dems still agree on $1,200 checks but deadlocked on unemployment assistance

Appearing on the same program shortly after, Mnuchin said the administration was worried about the cost.

“There’s obviously a need to support workers, support the economy,” Mnuchin said. “On the other hand, we have to be careful about not piling on enormous amounts of debt.”

He also argued that the increased benefits discourage unemployed workers from seeking employment, though economists have said that does not appear to be happening. 

“There are cases where people are overpaid,” Mnuchin said. 

The White House has said it would support a one-week extension of the $600 per week rate but Democrats have rejected the proposal as unworkable. 

Despite disagreement over unemployment assistance, Mnuchin said the two sides were still on the same page about the need for direct cash payments of $1,200 to most Americans. 

Speaking to reporters following his interview, Mnuchin said that Trump was in favor of the stimulus measure and that the checks were likely to be sent more quickly than they were the first time, possibly as soon as a week after the legislation is signed. 

When that will be remains up in the air, however. A staff level meeting between the two sides is expected for Sunday, with Mnuchin and Pelosi meeting in person on Monday, along with Meadows and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. 

Meadows, for his part, seemed to pour cold water on the idea of a deal being reached in the coming days during his own television interview on Sunday, on CBS’s “Face The Nation.” 

“I’m not optimistic that there will be a solution in the very near term,” Meadows said. 

Article source: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/02/white-house-dems-still-agree-on-checks-but-disagree-on-unemployment.html