U.S. CLOSE ON RELIEF DEAL.

White House not expected to oppose deal

WASHINGTON • Details began to emerge on Sunday over key economic relief measures in the long-awaited stimulus bill that lawmakers are racing to complete, including stimulus checks and federal unemployment benefits.

Lawmakers were hoping to vote on a stimulus relief package as early as Sunday, but Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, warned it's “doubtful” that the Senate would consider the relief legislation Sunday. However, Congress would need to pass another temporary stopgap measure to keep the government open, because appropriations to fund the federal government lapse Sunday at midnight.

Consensus has settled on US$600 stimulus checks, which would get phased out at upper incomes, similar to the last round of stimulus checks, according to two people granted anonymity to share details of private deliberations. And Congress would also extend unemployment benefits of up to US$300 per week, which could start as early as Dec. 27.

While the two people have said there's broad agreement on stimulus checks and unemployment insurance, they caution nothing is final until the bill released. Indeed, several other policy disputes remained outstanding, according to multiple aides close to negotiations who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the fluid talks, which could push the timeline back again.

At 12:18 a.m. on Sunday, President Trump tweeted that Congress needs to give “more money in direct payments.” Washington Post reported last week that White House aides talked Trump out of issuing a public statement demanding stimulus checks as big as US$2,000 out of fear he would sink the delicate negotiations.

Congressional lawmakers appeared ready to ignore the president's demands. People close to negotiations said they did not expect the White House to oppose the package over Trump's push for larger stimulus payments, although Trump has repeatedly scrambled congressional negotiations with last-minute demands.

Lawmakers have agreed in principle to new stimulus payments. If passed, the legislation would provide stimulus checks up to US$600 per person, including adults and children, meaning a family of four would receive US$2,400 up to a certain income. Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., as well as Trump, have made a push for more generous stimulus checks but those efforts are unlikely to prove successful.

The deal over extending federal jobless benefits for millions of unemployed Americans at a level of US$300 per week would cover up to 11 weeks of unemployment, at least through March 14, aides familiar with the negotiations said.